New Zealand’s Minister of Defense, Andrew Little, on Tuesday expressed his interest in negotiating an entry into the AUKUS program, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia and is aimed at boosting the production of nuclear-powered submarines.

”We have been offered the opportunity to talk about whether we can or wish to participate in that aspect of pillar two. I have indicated that we would be willing to explore it,” the minister said.

In this case, New Zealand would join the second ”pillar” of the program, which includes defense technologies ”associated” with nuclear-powered submarines, such as artificial intelligence and advanced information technology.

According to the defense minister, the security forces need to ”keep their technology up to the level of their Australian and U.S. counterparts” so that soldiers can communicate in joint operations.

”We have technology at the moment that does that, but that technology is becoming increasingly obsolete. We have to make sure we keep our technology current to allow us to do that,” Little explained.

Source: News360.es