Australia-New Zealand to ramp up military integration for ‘greater joint force’ amid Middle East conflict

Australia and New Zealand will ramp up their military integration for a “greater joint force“ amid the backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East and strategic competition in the region.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described the key Australia and New Zealand talks in Canberra on Tuesday as “amplified middle power diplomacy in action”.

The meeting marks the third annual Australia and New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting — known as ANZMIN — providing both nations a key opportunity to recalibrate their strategic direction.

In a wide-reaching dialogue on security and foreign policy, the quad discussed implications from the US-Israel-Iran conflict, as well as region issues such as China’s presence, maintaining a security leadership role, and transnational organised crime.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the nations were striving for a “similar concept of readiness”, aligning strategic military stockpiles, ramping up joint training exercised and pursuing defence industry co-production, sustainment, and procurement opportunities.

“We will be cooperating and working together more in exercises this year in respect of preparedness,” Mr Marles said,

“We’re particularly focused in the world today on the question of readiness, and we are looking at how we can cooperate more in respect of both of our defence forces operating under a similar concept of readiness.”

His New Zealand counterpart Judith Collins remained tight-lipped on whether it would be interested in acquiring Australia-made Mogami war ship but insisted “New Zealand has no better friend than Australia”.

“In relation to the replacements for the frigates, we are going through the process of actually working out which ones we want,” she said, saying it was between the Mogami and a UK frigate.

“We haven’t made any decision yet. And if I knew right now what the answer was, I probably still wouldn’t tell you.”

Senator Wong said fuel supply concerns and repatriations efforts in the wake of the Middle East conflict was on the agenda, repeating calls for citizens and permanent residents who have remained in the region to leave.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters played down concerns over fuel supplies, insisting there was “significant aviation supply” despite more than 1000 services cancelled by national carrier Air New Zealand last week.

“We’ve got a significant aviation supply in reserve New Zealand now, so it’s not a present crisis for us,” he claimed.

Senator Wong said Australia was engaging in ongoing discussions with China and other international partners over aviation fuel supplies, with Australia and New Zealand both reliant on Asian nations.

It comes after China had notified oil refiners to halt all exports, including jet fuel, to safeguard its own domestic supply.

“We’ve been engaging, including with China, both here and in country. But obviously there are a range of countries who we import from, and we will continue to engage,” she said.

Minister Peters spoke about the need to be the central security partner in the region.

“We don’t have an option. This is the blue continent. It’s out front-yard,” he said.

In a communique released after their meeting, the quad condemned China’s behaviour in the South China Sea as “unprofessional”.

“Ministers reiterated concerns about the intensification of destabilising activities and instances of unsafe and unprofessional behaviour by China in the South China Sea,” it stated.

The group welcomed “continued dialogue between the United States and China” despite Donald Trump’s threats to delay his Beijing meeting due after China has remained silent to his calls for naval support in the Strait of Hormuz.

The read out also highlighted the need for “bold and effective reforms to achieve a UN system capable of better delivering on its core mandates”.

Minister announced their support for Australia’s and New Zealand’s respective United Nations Security Council candidacies in 2029-2030 and 2039-2040.

They also called for an a immediate end to the Gaza conflict and to create a Palestinian state under their shared push for a two-state solution.

“Ministers expressed deep concern over Israel’s actions that undermine the path to peace, including the expansion of settlements and control over the West Bank, increasing settler violence against Palestinians, and restrictions on INGOs that impede their humanitarian operations,” the communique stated.

The Canberra meeting comes after New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon flew from Samoa to Tonga on Tuesday, which he discussed border security, the Middle East conflict and China’s influence in the Pacific.