As part of a significant military makeover announced Monday, New Zealand will increase defense expenditure by billions of dollars on drones, cyber security, and missiles.
New Zealand needs to “pull its weight” and increase defense spending from 1% of GDP to over 2% within the next ten years, according to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
According to Luxon, the NZ$9 billion (US$5 billion) plan would also strengthen New Zealand’s military’s cooperation with Australia, a crucial regional partner.
“Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and New Zealand has stepped up on the world stage, but our current defence spending is simply too low.”
Long-range drones, cyber security, border surveillance, and “enhanced strike capabilities” were among the priority topics.
Together with the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia, New Zealand is a part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing partnership.
However, it has come under fire over the years for adopting a more lenient stance toward China and prioritizing its commercial ties over the security concerns of its allies.
