As China flexes muscles in Indo-Pacific, New Zealand explores joining Australia-Fiji mutual defence pact

Amid China's growing muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific, New Zealand on Thursday announced that it will explore joining the Australia-Fiji mutual defence agreement.

Welcoming the agreement, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that engaging with the alliance —formally known as the Ocean of Peace Alliance— is a logical step given his country's close relationship with Australia.

"New Zealand and Australia share a close bond, with a military alliance that continues to go from strength to strength, and we also have a strong and enduring relationship with Fiji. We already work with both countries on how we can develop a safer region for all, so engaging with them on this alliance is logical," said Luxon.

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Australia and New Zealand are already members of the Anzus military alliance with the United States and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing coalition, which also includes the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

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The development comes as Australia has doubled down on engagement with Indo-Pacific nations in response to rising Chinese assertiveness in the region. The Ocean of Peace Alliance with Fiji is the second such agreement Australia has entered into recently after a similar pact with Papua New Guinea last year.

Under the Australia-Fiji agreement, the two countries are required to "act to meet the common danger" if either is attacked and to consult one another on security threats. The pact also obliges both countries to consult on security challenges, similar to Australia's treaty with Papua New Guinea signed last year.

Indo-Pacific nations ramp up partnerships as US withdraws

New Zealand's announcement is the latest development in the ongoing churn in the Indo-Pacific triggered by US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the theatre. As Trump has replaced competition with China with appeasement, middle powers in the region are coming together to make up for an absentee United States.

The announcement closely followed India and Australia's declaration to significantly enhance military cooperation and security partnership. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese pledged to increase military interoperability and information-sharing through expanded aircraft deployments in each other's territories and closer ties between military personnel, including through exchanges, education and training, and liaison roles.

Last week, Australia also signed a security agreement with Vanuatu, making Australia the country's preferred security and policing partner.

Australia has recognised that it is in a state of "permanent contestation" with China, and that strengthening preparedness and expanding regional partnerships are essential to securing its interests in the Indo-Pacific. In the wake of a retreating United States, Australia is deepening engagement with like-minded democracies, while partnerships with island nations —such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Vanuatu— remain central to its strategy.