The final decision on joining the alliance will be taken by the Cabinet, followed by the usual parliamentary treaty process, a statement said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood a decision would be months away and unlikely to come before the general election, meaning a new Cabinet will likely make the decision.<\/p>\n
Luxon would not commit to a timeline.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will take as long as it takes … I think we can move through it hopefully very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The alliance commits its parties \u201cto co-operate and consult, and to act to meet common danger\u201d, the Government said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Luxon said New Zealand and Australia shared a \u201cclose bond, with a military alliance that continues to go from strength to strength, and we also have a strong and enduring relationship with Fiji\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already work with both countries on how we can develop a safer region for all, so engaging with them on this alliance is logical.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christopher Luxon met his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in June. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said Pacific leaders had for decades operated under an approach of having Pacific-led responses to regional security issues. He said this alliance underscored that stance.<\/p>\n
\u201cElevating our long-standing relationship with Australia and Fiji \u2013 and other Pacific nations \u2013 to the next level through an alliance would mean we become even closer partners.\u201d <\/p>\n
Defence Minister Chris Penk said it was an opportunity for further co-operation in the Pacific as New Zealand and Australia marked 75 years of their alliance.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand values the opportunity to grow Pacific unity and build stronger defence and security partnerships within our region. We are committed to the implementation of deeper defence and security cooperation with Fiji.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ocean of Peace Alliance between Fiji and Australia is a \u201cmutual defence treaty\u201d, with one section stating that the parties recognise \u201cthat an armed attack on any of the parties within the Pacific would be dangerous to each other\u2019s peace and security as well as the security of the Pacific, and declares that it would act to meet the common danger, in accordance with its domestic processes\u201d.<\/p>\n
Victoria University international relations expert David Capie told the Herald that it was too early to say whether New Zealand would join the alliance, but acknowledged that Luxon had shown a \u201creal enthusiasm\u201d to join.<\/p>\n
While he found it unsurprising that New Zealand would seek to strengthen defence ties in the Pacific, Capie said it represented a shift in approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlliances have not been a way we have thought about pursuing our foreign policy interests. We\u2019ve tended to lean towards more multilateral frameworks, whether globally or in the region, so turning to an alliance as a way to advance our defence interests is a new development, so in that sense it\u2019s quite interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Capie, who doubted China\u2019s missile launch was purely in response to the alliance\u2019s announcement, said the launch was likely to have been a reminder of the contested geopolitical environment within the Pacific.<\/p>\n
He also speculated that New Zealand\u2019s decision to explore joining could reflect a desire to keep pace with Australia\u2019s presence in the Pacific.<\/p>\n
On Monday, after the Ocean of Peace Alliance was signed, Luxon indicated New Zealand could become involved. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think New Zealand being in early would be a good thing … you would have an ability to ultimately determine which other countries could join from across the Pacific,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Asked if it would aggravate China, he replied, \u201cNo, really what it\u2019s about is \u2026 in the unlikely event that if Fiji gets, you know, attacked, Australia has said that they have an ally relationship and they would backstop them and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was critical of the missile test. Photo \/ Anna Heath. <\/p>\n
On the same day that the alliance was struck, China conducted the test launch of a strategic missile by a nuclear submarine. The missile carried a dummy warhead towards the South Pacific.<\/p>\n
China described it as a \u201croutine arrangement\u201d as part of its navy\u2019s \u201cannual training\u201d \u2013 the same language used by China after a 2024 missile launch.<\/p>\n
But Peters said it was an \u201cunwelcome and concerning development\u201d and \u201cnot consistent with regional stability, and peace in the South Pacific\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe, like our neighbours in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability.\u201d<\/p>\n
In February last year, Chinese warships carried out live-firing exercises<\/a> in the Tasman Sea, which led to airlines changing their flight paths.<\/p>\n Luxon said at the time that China had not informed the Government<\/a> about its activity in the sea west of New Zealand. However, he said the vessels had been within international waters.<\/p>\n