NEW Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins said the prospect of increasing the country’s defense spending is on the books.
The idea seeks to replace aging machinery and boost cooperation with its traditional partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
The ministry is considering presenting a defense capability plan in the coming weeks that will address government needs until 2040.
Negotiations are also underway to invite New Zealand as an AUKUS Pillar 2 partner.
AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the U.S. in which American and British officials will help Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
New Zealand announced the need to spend more on its military since last year to help meet the challenges posed by great power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific, with China also gaining pace in the region.
