New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has conveyed his interest in exploring a part of the AUKUS agreement during his visit to Australia, emphasizing that his country maintains a "non-negotiable" nuclear-free stance. In a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney, Luxon expressed New Zealand's interest in delving into pillar two of the AUKUS deal, particularly exploring new technologies and potential opportunities for participation, according to reports from Sky News.
The AUKUS alliance, a trilateral agreement announced in September 2021, allows Australia to construct nuclear-powered submarines with technology provided by the US and the UK. While Luxon acknowledged the AUKUS pact as an "important element" for regional stability and peace, he reiterated that New Zealand's commitment to a nuclear-free policy is unwavering and non-negotiable.
"We will always have our nuclear-free position. That's non-negotiable for us in New Zealand," Luxon stated during a press briefing in Sydney.
Pillar two of the AUKUS agreement focuses on developing advanced technologies to enhance military capabilities. New Zealand is not a participant in the AUKUS deal and was not invited to join pillar one, as reported by local news website News.com.au.
The AUKUS agreement includes the transfer of up to four tons of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium from the US and Britain, both nuclear-weapon states, to Australia, which is a non-nuclear-weapon state.
(With Agency Inputs)
Read also| New Zealand Unveils Formation of New Coalition Government
