New Zealand steps up interest in Aukus as Pacific security concerns grow

News Snapshot:

New Zealand has stepped up its interest in joining the non-nuclear pillar of Aukus, amid China’s growing presence in the Pacific and broader concerns over a “reshaped world”. New Zealand’s foreign minister Winston Peters – also the deputy prime minister – and defence minister, Judith Collins, travelled to Melbourne to meet with their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles, for the inaugural ‘2+2’ Australia and New Zealand foreign and defence ministers’ meeting on Thursday. Talks between the countries focused on approaches to foreign policy, security and defence, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. In a joint press conference, defence minister...