New Zealand Quietly Joins US-led Indo-Pacific Defence Pact Focussing on Production Ties
Amid an ongoing public debate about whether New Zealand should join the Aukus pact, the government has quietly joined another US-led group with significant defence implications.
New Zealand is a participant in the newly established Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), a 13-member group directly supporting the U.S.’s strategy to boost its military industrial capacity in the region.
While New Zealand keeps its in participation lowkey, PIPIR represents a deeper collaboration in the sphere of defence production. US discussions highlight the urgency: the US fears it could exhaust its weapons supply amids escalating global tensions.
The partnership’s four workstreams include bolstering production capacity for hypersonic missiles and drones. While this raises questions about traditional "peace" positions, New Zealand could gain easier access to supplies and become a regional hub for military equipment.
New Zealand’s Defense Minister, Judith Collins
says the partnership is "to mitigate defence supply chain challenges"
"(from Ukrainians to) avoid supply chain risks… and limit their impact".
"Everything that we’re doing, we’re looking to see how we can be more interoperable with Australia," Collins said, emphasizing the bilateral relationship as New Zealand and Australia aim to become "much more integrated" in their defense cooperation.
The US initiated the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience to offer an alternative to China’s growing influence in the region and solve another key security challenge: limited production amid global conflicts and tensions. The Atlantic Council, often seen as a sounding board for US policymakers, highlights crisis:
"as weapons demand surges amid the Ukraine war … the Pentagon has been casting about across the world in search of new partnerships for weapons production,"
New Zealand has already quietly joined key defence related tech companies
You state as part of
a joint statement with Daniel Kelly
that the defence industrial base
New Zealand’s participation in PIPIR yet to be formally acknowledged.
The likely implication: New Zealand will assist in fortifying global defence production.
"American allies and partners are reporting that
defend authorities are
"working with the US to "strengthen our collective ability to produce and sustain warfighting capability in the Indo-Pacific," Undersecretary of Defense William LaPlante stated at the inaugural meeting of the group in Honolulu.
New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins
, emphasizing the potential for the New Zealand Defence Force to "negatively impact key areas of strategic interest.”
The new partnership seems to address US concerns
**
This is a complex issue:**
- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cited breaking down barriers
by
to better integrate global defence industries."
-
At a tech-dialogue, "national technology and industrial base," committing to
- The partnership is not without its critics.
In recent months,
The Atlantic Council for
whether New Zealand joins whether to join the
While the NZ government has not publicly
New Zealand’s Defence White Paper signals a trend of going
This coincides with.
Beyond Production: It’s important to recognise that PIPIR carries wider geopolitical weight beyond production+;
The secretive alliance will focus on creating a
, which refers to
"The strategy also highlighted several areas of political and economic cooperation with potential military applications."
The Broader Context
The PIPIR announcement follows a string of other elaborate defence arrangements between the US, its traditional allies,
Concluding thoughts.
PIPIR removes New Zealand
– What are the potential economic benefits and drawbacks for New Zealand participating in PIPIR?
## Interview: New Zealand’s Quiet Joining of PIPIR
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Emily Carter, a leading expert on Pacific security and defense policy. Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Carter:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Dr. Carter, there’s been some news recently about New Zealand quietly joining a US-led defense initiative called PIPIR. Can you tell us more about this partnership and its implications?
**Dr. Carter:** The Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience, or PIPIR, is a newly established partnership of 13 countries focused on bolstering defense industrial capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. While it hasn’t received much public attention, it represents a significant shift in New Zealand’s defense posture.
**Host:** It’s interesting you say “shift in posture.” New Zealand has been traditionally wary of close military alliances. What’s driving this move?
**Dr. Carter:** Several factors are at play. The US, concerned by China’s growing influence and its own limited production capacity amidst global tensions, has been actively seeking partners to strengthen its military supply chain. This partnership allows New Zealand to gain easier access to vital defense technology and potentially become a regional hub for military equipment [Reuters].
**Host:** Some might argue this move contradicts New Zealand’s historically pacifist stance. How do you respond to that?
**Dr. Carter:** It’s true that New Zealand has traditionally emphasized diplomacy and peacekeeping. However, the current geopolitical landscape is evolving rapidly.
This partnership, as framed by New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins, is less about offensive capabilities and more about addressing supply chain vulnerabilities highlighted by the war in Ukraine. By strengthening regional defense production, New Zealand is aiming to mitigate risks and ensure its own security, as well as contribute to a stable Indo-Pacific region.
**Host:** There’s been mention of New Zealand aiding in the production of hypersonic missiles and drones. How comfortable do you think the New Zealand public will be with this kind of involvement?
**Dr. Carter:** That’s a crucial question. This partnership raises important ethical and strategic questions for New Zealand. I expect there will be considerable public debate about the implications of contributing to the development of advanced weaponry. It’ll be important for the government to transparently communicate its rationale and address any concerns the public may have.
**Host:** What do you see as the potential implications of PIPIR for the broader region?
**Dr. Carter:** PIPIR has the potential to reshape the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific. By fostering closer ties between the US and its allies in the region, it aims to counterbalance China’s influence [Reuters]. However, it also carries the risk of further militarizing the region and escalating tensions. It will be crucial for all parties involved to engage in open dialog and ensure that this partnership promotes stability and cooperation, rather than fueling an arms race.
**Host:** Dr. Carter, thank you for sharing your valuable insights with us. This is certainly a development worth watching closely.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me.
