New Zealand may join Aukus pact’s non-nuclear component

Andrew Little, the New Zealand defence minister, has met with Kurt Campbell, the US administration’s tsar for the Indo-Pacific region. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

New Zealand’s government has confirmed it is discussing joining the non-nuclear part of the Aukus alliance founded by Australia, the UK and US.

“We have been offered the opportunity to talk about whether we could or wish to participate in that pillar two [non-nuclear] aspect of it,” said Andrew Little, the New Zealand defence minister. “I’ve indicated we will be willing to explore it.”