New Zealand says it will contemplate sharing military tech with U.S. and Britain
Associated PressFEB 2024
New Zealand Considers 6.6% Cut to Defense Spending
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The Spin
Narrative A
It is a well-known fact that New Zealand's military needs a significant restructuring. One budget adjustment will not cure decades of underinvestment; defense will require massive investments for an extended period. It's problematic that insufficient military expenditure and capability will undermine Auckland's chances of becoming a member of the technology-oriented segment of the AUKUS defense alliance.
Narrative B
Economic realities have confronted the conservative administration of New Zealand, making it unable to sustain its objective of increasing its military expenditure. Everyone agrees that increasing expenditure is necessary. However, the government will need to implement a significant reduction in spending across all ministries in order to achieve financial stability, before increasing spending again.