UK, New Zealand Deepen Defence Ties, Boost Ukraine Support

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation, including stepping up support for Ukraine through an extension of Operation Interflex, which has already trained over 54,000 Ukrainian soldiers with joint UK-New Zealand efforts. New Zealand will continue its involvement in the initiative until the end of the year, and both countries' military planners are contributing to post-conflict support for Ukraine. Starmer also announced a £30 million contract for drones produced by New Zealand's SYOS Aerospace, enhancing Ukraine's capabilities and supporting jobs in the UK. The leaders instructed their defence ministers to work on a new bilateral defence partnership, replacing the 2015 agreement, and confirmed the Royal New Zealand Navy will join the UK’s Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific. Both nations highlighted their longstanding defence ties, including participation in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, and emphasized the importance of economic security and free trade alongside military collaboration. Starmer underscored the significance of these measures in countering global instability and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.