2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

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CHAPTER FIVE: POSITIONING DEFENCE FOR TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES
to share the burden of international security and make meaningful
contributions to international coalitions. Australia’s shared interest
with the United States in a stable rules-based global order has seen us
operate side by side in every major conflict since the First World War.
In recent years Australia has worked with the United States: in combat
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to the global threat
of terrorism; to uphold maritime security; and to respond to natural
disasters in the Philippines, Japan and Pakistan.
5.30 While the interests of Australia and the United States will not always
align, the capabilities outlined in this White Paper will allow us to
continue contributing meaningfully to United States-led operations
in response to regional and global security challenges wherever our
interests are engaged.
SECTION TWO CAPABILITY
New Zealand
5.31 Australia’s defence relationship with New Zealand is built on deep
mutual security interests, shared values and long-standing people to
people linkages. We share our immediate region, the South Pacific, a
reliance on the stable rules-based global order for our prosperity and
a willingness to make positive contributions to regional and global
security and stability operations. We are close partners and ANZUS
allies. Our close defence relationship is reflected in regular Ministerial
and senior officials strategic dialogues, personnel exchanges, exercises
and cooperation to meet regional and global security challenges.
5.32 The deployment of a combined Australia-New Zealand Task Group to the
current Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq, and our cooperation in
the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands and humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief operations, underscores the shared
regional and global interests of both countries. Our ability to cooperate
so closely with New Zealand in these operations reinforces our high
levels of interoperability. This interoperability includes close cooperation
on strategic planning and intelligence.