Former New Zealand Prime Ministers Join Debate Against Australia's Nuclear Submarine Deal

 

Australia's decision to spend up to $400 billion on nuclear submarines as part of the Aukus pact with the US and UK has sparked criticism from former New Zealand prime ministers, as well as from opposition politicians and commentators. Former National prime minister Jim Bolger has criticised the deal as "beyond comprehension" and challenged its proponents to defend it, while former Labour prime minister Helen Clark has said New Zealand's interests do not lie in being associated with Aukus. National's foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee has also been critical, saying the deal is bad for New Zealand's security and will create problems working with New Zealand because of the nuclear elements of the new submarines. However, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has condemned the notion that Aukus will make New Zealand less safe, and called for more military spending in the country.