Our Government has confirmed it is discussing joining the non-nuclear part of the AUKUS alliance founded by Australia, the UK and US.

Defence Minister Andrew Little said “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,” and "I’ve indicated we will be willing to explore it.”

In the early 1980s, New Zealand walked out of the ANZUS pact on principle, rather than be an accomplice to nuclear war.

Now it seems we may be becoming a nuclear ally, via the AUKUS pact.

To discuss this, Director of International Studies at Otago University, Professor Robert Patman joined Kerre Woodham.

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