Resumption of US warship visits possible - reports

[beagle]

A diplomatic flurry surrounds the first visit to New Zealand by a United States defence secretary in 30 years after reports it would signal the resumption of American warship visits.
US media reported unnamed officials saying they hoped to resume visits by navy warships to New Zealand for the first time since 1984, when the Anzus military alliance was suspended over New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation.
It follows the resumption of near-normal relations between the New Zealand and US militaries after a near 30-year freeze on training and exercises.
The report is understood to have sparked heavy cable traffic between New Zealand and the US ahead of the arrival of US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Friday.
Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman yesterday hosed down the prospect of ship visits and said there was no change to policy on either side.
"The bottom line is we're not changing our nuclear ships policy and we've got an independent foreign policy and the US is very comfortable with that, and the relationship is growing with those parameters clearly stated."
Defence expert Robert Ayson said he expected Panetta would have something to announce in New Zealand given the significance of his visit. But the resumption of ship visits was unlikely.
Defence relations with the US have significantly warmed in recent years, culminating in the arrival of US Marines in New Zealand for joint exercises earlier this year and New Zealand's participation in the giant Rimpac exercises off Hawaii.

[raymond]

"Resumption of US warship visits"

Sounds like a Tui's ad

[skywarrior]

When will the government drop the whole nuclear ship crap and just let the yanks bring some real military hardware into our ports.

[beagle]

oink, oink oink, shoot that down dear, I am hungry for a bacon sandwich

[Dave Homewood]

This "resumption of US ship visit" thing is purely a media ploy to catch people's attentions and try to get them to buy their newspapers. It simply won't happen.

[beagle]

mr minto would love another protest.

[ngatimozart]

Sept 20, 2012 21:06:35 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

This "resumption of US ship visit" thing is purely a media ploy to catch people's attentions and try to get them to buy their newspapers. It simply won't happen.

Well the media have claimed it is about resumption of ship visits, but thats far from whats probably going to happen. The PM has said that the legislation is basically non negotiable and really the ball is in the US court and has been for many years. They are the ones who spat the dummy & chucked all their toys out of the cot. yes the legilslation has its opponents but the argument is not about the rights and wrongs of the legislation. It's about our sovereign right to make and enact laws without interference from outside. The US was very close to interfering with our internal affairs and our sovereign rights.

[Dave Homewood]

Let's just let them get on with their business and not second guess what's going on (like the bloody media).

[richard1098]

Agreed.

I don't think its really usefuly to rehash the media driven emotion of the time either, simply because the other two former ANZUS partners would each have their own perceptions of the conduct of the NZ government of the day, and I'm pretty sure those perceptions would be far from positive.

[meo4]

Maybe not USN warship more like USCG Cutter to exercise with RNZN Patrol Force and RNZAF MPA. They had USCG personnel over couple of years ago for Exercise Maru in Hauraki Gulf .As in picture below.



It would make more sense for visiting USCG opposed to USN as we sort of lack the military hardware of ANZUS days to hold a conventional maritime warfare exercise . Would be better for our Frigates and Orions to travel to Singapore , Hawaii, Oz for major exercises.


www.youtube.com/watchv=XNpUkGxWWso

[ngatimozart]

In a key shift, the United States is lifting a ban on New Zealand navy vessels visiting US ports, and will remove obstacles to defence talks and exercises.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the shifts in policy after talks with Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman in Auckland today.

And Stuffs writeup www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7710099/US-Defence-Secretary-lifts-more-US-NZ-restrictions

[phil82]

It's not a wild guess, but I wouldn't mind betting the US Navy din't know the RNZN were parked elsewhere! "And as for the Pearl Harbour snub, that fence would be mended over time. Quote: "Some of the older guys in our navy still carry some baggage, and there are some in New Zealand who still feel pretty strongly about this stuff. Some of those guys are still around and maybe one of them was in charge of parking."

In 1975 when Saigon fell, I was in ANZUK and privacy to some shared intelligence and for MONTHS after Saigon fell, war materiel from the US continued to be unloaded at South Vietnam ports. The US simply couldn't turn the tap off that quickly!

[ngatimozart]

Well our sailors are gonna be very unimpressed. Now they'llhave to pay for transport to bars & fleshpots downtown. When they were moored alongside the cruise boat jetty they were across the road from said bars & fleshpots