Robert Ayson, Professor of Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington said that the security and defense cooperation between New Zealand and the United States did not start suddenly, but has been accumulated over decades.
When I launched the Micronesian Maritime Security Project in 2008, it was then US Secretary of State Hillary who welcomed it. I remember it well because Hillary and Campbell followed me on island hopping trips and visits to Australia and NZ. It was Australia who showed stromg reseravations. Australia has been criticized for saying that the South Pacific is their backyard, but they thought that Micronesia in the North Pacific was also their backyard.
Australia's strong opposition caused the U.S. to be surprised, and my commuting to Canberra began. This led to the Japan-U.S.-Australia maritime security framework that led to the Quad. I intentionally constructed this. India had not crossed my mind until Congressman Seiichi Eto asked me about it in 2017.
I was paying attention to New Zealand, which would be in the shadow, if not the neighborhood, of Australia.
Hillary's visit to New Zealand, in other words, the Asia Pivot Strategy, was of great significance. When the U.S. moves, the world and international politics move. Hillary and Assistant Secretary of State Campbell had planted the seeds. The Wellington Declaration was signed.
I wrote about it in my blog in November 2010
I overlooked the Washington Declaration. I copied both Wellington and Washington Declaration here.
The Wellington Declaration
The Wellington Declaration opened a new chapter in closer US-NZ relations and established a framework for a strategic partnership to shape future practical cooperation and political dialogue. It was signed on November 5, 2010 by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully.
Among the issues cited for cooperation are climate change, renewable energy initiatives, disaster recovery, nuclear proliferation, extremism, trade, security, and sustainable economic development across the region.
The goal of the Wellington Declaration is to strengthen “a partnership for the 21st century that is flexible, dynamic and reflects our fundamental beliefs and aspirations.”
Text of the Wellington Declaration
November 5, 2010
New Zealand and the United States are both Pacific nations. Our governments and peoples share a deep and abiding interest in maintaining peace, prosperity, and stability in the region, expanding the benefits of freer and more open trade, and promoting and protecting freedom, democracy and human rights worldwide. We recall the long history of shared United States and New Zealand sacrifice in battle and we honor those, past and present, who have borne that sacrifice.
As we look to the challenges of the 21st century, our shared democratic values and common interests will continue to guide our collective efforts.
The United States-New Zealand strategic partnership is to have two fundamental elements: a new focus on practical cooperation in the Pacific region; and enhanced political and subject-matter expert dialogue – including regular Foreign Ministers’ meetings and political-military discussions.
We resolve to further our two nations’ joint cooperation in addressing broader regional and global challenges, such as climate change, nuclear proliferation, and extremism.
We resolve also to develop new joint initiatives that confront the challenges faced by the Pacific. Particular areas of focus are to include renewable energy and disaster response management. We recognize that climate change adaptation in the Pacific is also a priority for both countries and is an issue to which the United States and New Zealand are committed. We intend also to work closely to enhance dialogue on regional security issues.
We endeavor to develop deeper and broader people-to-people ties between the United States and New Zealand, encouraging innovation, and expanding our commercial and trade relations, building on the creativity and rich diversity of our societies.
To ensure the broadest participation of our citizens in strengthening the relationship between our two nations, we should focus efforts across our societies, including women, youth, minorities and future leaders.
We are dedicated to working together to address trade, security and development issues through APEC, the East Asia Summit, the United Nations, and other regional and multilateral institutions.
Our goal is a partnership for the 21st Century that is flexible, dynamic, and reflects our fundamental beliefs and aspirations.
The Washington Declaration on Defense Cooperation
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and NZ Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman signed the Washington Declaration on Defense Cooperation on June 19, 2012 at the Pentagon. The agreement provides a framework and common vision for cooperation to strengthen and expand the bilateral defense relationship.
The Declaration marks the first time in more than 30 years that the United States and New Zealand have entered into a formal defense agreement.
It reflects a shared commitment to a stable and peaceful Asia-Pacific region and common approaches to address the region’s defense and security issues, including contemporary non-traditional security challenges.
Like the Wellington Declaration (signed in 2010), the Washington Declaration opens dialogues that include the exchange of information, strategic perspectives, and defense policies.
It includes collaboration on issues such as maritime security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peacekeeping support operations.
Text of the Washington Declaration on Defense Cooperation
between
The Department of Defense of the United States of America
and
The Ministry of Defense of New Zealand and the New Zealand Defense Force
June 19, 2012
The Department of Defense of the United States of America (U.S. Department of Defense), and for New Zealand the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force (hereafter referred to collectively as “the Participants”):
- Reaffirming the Wellington Declaration of November 2010, which established a new United States-New Zealand strategic partnership to shape future practical cooperation and political dialogue;
- Reaffirming the strong defense relations between the Participants based on a shared commitment to a stable and peaceful Asia-Pacific region and common approaches to address the region’s defense and security issues, including contemporary non-traditional security challenges;
- Reaffirming the long-term intent to promote and strengthen closer bilateral defense and security cooperation;
- Acknowledging the areas of common interest and mutually beneficial practical cooperation that already exist between the Participants;
- Desiring to contribute to the objective of this Declaration by expanding existing practical defense and security cooperation activities; and
- Respecting the effective laws and regulations of the other Participant;
Have reached the following understandings:
PARAGRAPH 1
PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION
This Declaration is based on the following principles shared by the Participants:
- The bilateral defense relationship between the Participants is based on full respect for the independence, self-reliance, and sovereignty of each Participant, and is in the spirit of the long-standing friendship, mutual respect, trust, and understanding that exists between the two countries;
- An enduring defense and security cooperation partnership between the United States and New Zealand is of significant benefit to both nations and to the region; and
- A deepening relationship between defense establishments contributes to improved international relations, strengthens our overall bilateral relationship, and enhances regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
PARAGRAPH 2
PURPOSES OF THIS DECLARATION
The purposes of this Declaration are to:
- Provide a framework for cooperation to focus, strengthen, and expand the bilateral defense relationship;
- Promote a common vision that shapes the Participants’ intent to expand practical bilateral defense cooperation;
- Provide a mechanism to identify and implement new areas of defense cooperation, as intended by both Participants; and
- Serve as the overarching framework to plan and execute defense cooperation.
PARAGRAPH 3
SCOPE OF EXPANDED DEFENSE AND SECURITY COOPERATION
In pursuit of a shared vision of a stronger and deeper bilateral defense relationship, the Participants’ defense establishments intend to work towards expanded defense cooperation initially focusing on the following areas:
- The establishment of regular, senior-level, strategic policy dialogues between the U.S. Department of Defense and the New Zealand Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force; and
- Security Cooperation.
To expand cooperation in these areas, the Participants intend to:
- Ensure the Participants’ capabilities are able to counter traditional and non-traditional threats to their security interests;
- Build the Participants’ maritime security presence and capabilities;
- Strengthen the Participants’ regional situational awareness in order to contribute to the Participants’ national defense and enhanced regional security related to issues such as natural disasters;
- Cooperate in the development of the Participants’ deployable capabilities, in support of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific; and
- Share information and ideas to support future security cooperation opportunities.
- Affirm that the Participants are prepared to respond in accordance with national approval processes in a timely and effective way to the range of contingencies that may arise in the region, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and multilateral cooperation with regional partners’ armed forces.
PARAGRAPH 4
IMPLEMENTATION
Activities under this Declaration are to be led by the respective Participants’ implementing authorities.
The implementing authorities each have the responsibility to develop individual plans with concrete steps towards conducting bilateral and multilateral activities in key areas of cooperation.
The implementing authorities intend to use this Declaration and other bilateral mechanisms to develop additional plans, as necessary and appropriate, to expand defense cooperation into additional areas beyond the areas identified herein.
These plans are to serve as clear roadmaps for the Participants to achieve the common vision of a growing practical bilateral defense relationship.
ANNEX
ACTIVITIES PROPOSED UNDER THE WASHINGTON DECLARATION
The Participants, to the extent authorized by their respective laws, intend to work towards expanded bilateral cooperation by pursuing the following kinds of activities:
1. Defense Dialogues
- Exchange information and strategic perspectives; and
- Increase understanding of the respective defense policies of each Participant through, for example, personnel exchanges
2. Security Cooperation
a. Maritime Security Cooperation
- Share information and expertise;
- Cooperate in maritime security and safety activities; and
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- Participate in bilateral and multilateral exercises, operations, and training opportunities, including those related to counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, addressing regional resource exploitation, and supporting freedom of commerce and navigation.
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b. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) Cooperation with a focus on the Asia-Pacific and
- Share information and expertise;
- Plan for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities; and
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- Conduct bilateral and multilateral conferences, activities, and operational-level exercises to increase Participants’ cross-domain interoperability.
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c. United Nations and other multi-national peacekeeping and peace support operations
- Share information and expertise; and
- Exercise and train to maintain cross-domain interoperability both between the Participants as well as multilaterally.
