Now is a good time to consider building on our defence relationship with Canada, writes retired New Zealand Army Lieutenant Colonel and director and co-founder of Latent, Josh Wineera.
As the government and the New Zealand Navy responded to the Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea few people would have been aware of the Canadian connection. Canada, or more precisely Canadian technology, helped New Zealand’s naval response, with the frigate HMNZS Te Kaha equipped to follow and track the Chinese fleet.
Te Kaha and her sister ship Te Mana both received a significant capability upgrade known as the Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Canada, with final testing completed in late 2023.
This $600 million project not only extended the life of the frigates, but, according to the Ministry of Defence, the upgrade “delivered new radars, electronic detection and other above water systems, the self-defence missile system, decoys against missiles and torpedoes, and upgrade to the hull-mounted sonar, and the combat management system that integrates these”.
“… like in all relationships, there are moments that present as opportunities to reaffirm and invest more as the capacity of each allows. Now is that moment. O Canada, we see you.”
While a huge cost, the additional capabilities would have given some comfort to our sailors watching the Chinese fleet at sea. Thank you, Canada.
The current highly-charged geopolitical environment is dominated by either conflict or competition involving the US, Russia, Ukraine and China. Small military nations like New Zealand and Canada, can only look on and assess their current capabilities, defence budgets and alliances and partnerships.
Acknowledging Canada’s current political and trade tension with the US, what does the security partnership between Wellington and Ottawa look like? Is it enough? Can we do more with each other?
Is this the time to remind each other, and our respective publics, of how important our long-standing defence relationship is?
Asking how much do we value our shared values would be a start point, not least because Canadians share so many of our national traits – they too are adventurers, and explorers of the land, air and sea. They too have a sense of justice, empathy, and humour. And we both share a case of mistaken identity, one many Kiwi travellers know well when being confused as Australian, while Canadians are often mistaken as Americans.
While New Zealand and Canadian military forces have served alongside each other for over 100 years, it is perhaps on the Korean peninsula where we forged a rock-solid commitment, conviction and support to each other.
74 years ago next month, in a fierce battle during the Korea War, New Zealand gunners from 16 Field Regiment laid down artillery fire to support the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, in an operation that also involved Australian, US, UK and Republic of Korea forces.
In what became known as the battle of Kapyong, the Commonwealth Brigade of roughly 2,000 soldiers were able to blunt the advance of 20,000 People’s Volunteer Army Chinese soldiers. A one to ten ratio against!
More recently, both countries have deployed soldiers to Afghanistan, East Timor and Egypt, and routinely exchange personnel for training and military education.
It’s understandable that these activities are overshadowed by our larger relationships with Australia, the US and UK. It’s heartening, however, that Canada’s Army Commander hosted New Zealand’s Chief of Army last month with the overriding sentiment being “in 2025, the old ways of doing things are no longer fit for purpose”.
But, like in all relationships, there are moments that present as opportunities to reaffirm and invest more as the capacity of each allows. Now is that moment. O Canada, we see you.
Kāhore taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini – We cannot succeed without the support of those around us.
Be the first to comment