New Zealand is officially considering joining the “Ocean of Peace Alliance,” a new defence pact established between Australia and Fiji earlier this week. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed the government’s interest on Thursday, following reports from Reuters. The alliance, signed on Monday, commits Australia and Fiji to mutual military assistance in the event of an attack. It represents Fiji’s first formal defence treaty and positions the nation as a key strategic partner for Australia, alongside its existing alliances with the United States, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. The pact is structured to allow other Pacific nations to join, a feature that aligns with regional security objectives. New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, emphasized that the potential membership supports the long-standing principle of Pacific-led responses to regional security challenges. “Elevating our long-standing relationship with Australia and Fiji to the next level through an alliance would mean we become even closer partners,” Peters stated in an official release. Currently, New Zealand maintains only one formal defence ally—Australia—though it remains an active member of the Five Eyes intelligence network and a partner to NATO. The New Zealand government has initiated preliminary discussions with Canberra and Suva regarding the terms of membership. A final decision will rest with the New Zealand cabinet. The move follows heightened regional tensions, underscored by China’s recent test-firing of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean earlier this week.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced New Zealand is considering joining the newly formed Australia-Fiji ‘Ocean of Peace Alliance’ to strengthen regional security.
