Mapp Canvasses Future Defence Options
August 20th, 2009
The Cabinet strategy Committee this week reviewed the first draft of the proposed defence white paper, in time for Defence Minister Wayne Mapp to give a broad outline of its thinking to a joint meeting of Cabinet Ministers to be held, appropriately, at the Naval Heritage Centre on Garden Island in Sydney on Friday. The new Defence White paper is being assembled in 2 phases: an assessment by the Ministry of Defence and NZ Defence Force in consultation with MFAT, and assisted by 3 civilian advisers, followed by the final paper prepared within the Beehive, in the offices of Mapp, and Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy. Defence sources indicate the draft has been heavily influenced by the economic environment, with opportunities for additional capital spending severely constrained beyond those programmes already committed (the most recent being a request for proposals to update soon-to-be-obsolete control systems of the Anzac frigates).
The RNZAF will not get its strike capacity back again, despite National’s criticism of the Labour Govt’s action in 2000. The NZDF will be constrained to existing areas of operations, mainly in the Pacific. An emphasis will be placed on increasing inter-operability and exercising with the Aust. Defence forces, (with an increasing prospect of working with US Forces, although the Govt has apparently been told a full resumption of US defence ties will not occur until NZ modifies its anti-nuclear law to permit ship visits). The main differences with Aust are likely to be in the area of strategic and threat assessment. This is one area where foreign policy advisers are worried the Key Govt’s intention to snuggle up to Canberra might work against NZ’s broader interests, an example being the stand-off between China and Aust over conflict in the iron ore industry. Aust reports underline how the diplomatic chill is spreading into political and economic forums.
Copyright © Trans Tasman Media Ltd
Duncan Cotterill