Closer Military Ties Between NZ & US

[ngatimozart]

This was on Stuff website this morning

Closer military ties between US, NZ
DANYA LEVY

New Zealand and the United States have signed a new defence agreement to resume high-level talks and improve co-operation in the Asia Pacific region.

The Washington Declaration has just been signed by Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman and US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta at the Pentagon.

Government sources yesterday said the agreement was non-binding and didn't threaten New Zealand's independent foreign policy stance.

Military cooperation between the two countries froze in the 1980s when New Zealand was suspended from the formal Anzus military alliance between New Zealand, Australia and the United States over its anti-nuclear stance.

It follows the signing of the Wellington declaration in 2010 in which New Zealand and the US agreed to regular meetings at a foreign ministers' level and political-military discussions.

That paved the way for closer military ties which last month saw US Marines on New Zealand soil for the first time in almost 30 years. New Zealand Defence Force engineers are currently in the US undertaking a field training exercise.

Coleman said the relationship between the two countries had advanced significantly in the past three years.

The Washington Declaration was a companion document to the Wellington Declaration and enhanced the areas New Zealand and the US had worked closely together on over the past two years: maritime security, including counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism and anti-piracy.

It also included co-operation for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the region, and promoted peace-keeping and peace-supporting initiatives.

"This high-level arrangement recognises the significant security co-operation that exists between New Zealand and the US within the context of our independent foreign policy, and seeks to build upon that co-operation in the years ahead," Coleman said.

Closer ties between New Zealand and the US come as the US is taking a greater involvement in the Asia-Pacific region.

Panetta earlier this month outlined a new strategy to "pivot" America's focus toward Asia-Pacific.

- © Fairfax NZ News

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/national/7133939/Closer-military-ties-between-US-NZ

[strikemaster]

Never saw that coming....... hang on, yup, I did. :-) Good thing too, maybe the yanks will loan us some F-16's? We are in a position now where, I think, the US needs us and Australia.

[nige]

Jun 20, 2012 11:51:18 GMT 12 strikemaster said:

Never saw that coming....... hang on, yup, I did. :-) Good thing too, maybe the yanks will loan us some F-16's? We are in a position now where, I think, the US needs us and Australia.

Better use the word "lease" or "purchase" there instead of "loan", otherwise we'll be accused of bludging ;D

[ngatimozart]

This link to press release: beehive.govt.nz/release/us-nz-defence-arrangement-signed

And link to the actual Washington Declaration text: beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/WashingtonDeclaration.pdf

Take note of paragraph three. That will upset the bean counters in treasury ;D

Cannot use the word purchase in conjunction with F16s. That would cause an outbreak of massive coronaries at Treasury ;D Lease is a term that would be acceptable but it aint gonna happen unfortunately.

[strikemaster]

Oh boy, that's sweet. I especially like Para 3, point b. Pretty much points at what you said, Nige.

[beagle]

And they would be pushing J models instead of Airbus too probably.

[ngatimozart]

Jun 20, 2012 16:22:30 GMT 12 beagle said:

And they would be pushing J models instead of Airbus too probably.

And that's where it becomes interesting. We can't fit the NH90s into any C130s unless we take to the top of the fuselage with a gas axe, so we either go down the road of the A400 or the yanks give us a real good deal on two or three C17s. Now the C17 has been in production forquite a number of years and the order book is still filling up so it's price should now be getting close to what the A400 IOC price is.

[ox]

Probably a pipe dream, but C17s do do exactly what it says on the tin. Probably the easiest entry into service of anything the Aussies have bought lately.

[meo4]

Think paragraph 3 is more about maritime security Martime domain eg Frigates , Orion's , seasprites ,amphibious troops , littoral warfare ,air transport etc.
So probably means purchasing kit compatible with allies.
C130J P8A ESSM for frigates etc . I see boeing is investgating a P8 lite version.

defensetech.org/2012/02/14/is-boeing-proposing-a-p-8-lite/

As for F16s the Yanks have found a new role for their F16 fleet .

www.militaryaerospace.com/topics/device/mobile/t/56283795/boeing-qf-16-aerial-target-completes-first-flight-test.htm?m_n=true

m.jalopnik.com/5623677/this-is-what-blowing-up-an-f+16-looks-like

[ngatimozart]

The NZ Herald take on this. "Back to being friends with benefits". Like that term The article is quite informative and worth the read. www.nzherald.co.nz/defence/news/article.cfm?c_id=32&objectid=10814951

[steve]

Long overdue. Full credit to Ambassador Mike Moore and the many kiwis who believed in a balanced foreign policy and were not taken in by the hidden anti american propaganda of the far left.