Asia Defense | Security | Oceania

Australia, New Zealand Set Ambitious Course for Deeper Defense Cooperation

Building on the long-standing bilateral alliance under the ANZUS Treaty, Canberra and Wellington aim to translate political commitments into greater practical military cooperation by 2035. 

There are few closer bilateral relationships in the world than that of Australia and New Zealand. There may be a significant body of water between the two countries, but it is mostly vowel sounds that separate them. Culture and cooperation run deep, and the defense relationship is particularly tight – driven by the first Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established during World War I and persisting to this day whenever there is a joint mission. 

This shared legacy was the backdrop for the “Operationalizing the Australia‑New Zealand Alliance: ANZAC 2035” statement released in mid-March by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins. The agreement sets out an ambitious vision for defense cooperation over the next decade.

The agreement builds on the long-standing bilateral alliance under the ANZUS Treaty and the framework of Closer Defense Relations (CDR), aiming to translate political commitments into greater practical military cooperation by 2035. The statement reflects a shared assessment that the strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific is becoming more uncertain and contested, requiring the two countries to operate more closely together in order to deter threats and safeguard regional stability.

A central theme of the statement is the ambition to develop a more integrated “Anzac force” capable of operating seamlessly across the full spectrum of military activities. This includes aligning defense planning, expanding joint exercises, and embedding personnel within each other’s defense institutions – much of which is already occurring and can easily be expanded upon. 

But given the far more fragile and dangerous global environment, the intention is to ensure that both forces can deploy together rapidly and effectively should crises or conflict come to the region. This necessitates making sure that there are shared doctrines, compatible equipment, and coordinated operational planning. 

The agreement outlines several “lines of effort” designed to further operationalize the alliance. These include improving interoperability between the two militaries, strengthening force posture cooperation across each country’s territory, and expanding joint capability development and sustainment. The statement emphasizes practical collaboration in areas such as defense industry cooperation, logistics, training, and the acquisition of compatible platforms and systems, with the aim of reducing duplication and improving collective readiness. 

Central to this is a commitment to joint engagement in the Indo-Pacific........

© The Diplomat