An ANZAC swap

Defence News reports:

The armed forces of New Zealand and Australia have swapped deputy commanders at their respective joint forces headquarters, signaling that they consider the defense of their nations an interconnected affair.

This is very significant. It signals how close Australia and NZ are, and how important it is to have interoperability.

The appointment of New Zealand Army officer Maj. Gen. Hugh McAslan is the highest-level senior posting of an officer from a foreign military into the Australian forces. The corresponding Australian appointment went to Army Brigadier Michael Bassingthwaighte.

So a NZ Officer will be the highest ranking foreign officer to serve in the Australian Defence Force.

New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles welcomed the appointments during the Oct. 2 South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) in Auckland.

As China’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the South Pacific shows the increasingly fraught and dangerous strategic environment, it is reassuring to have Australia and NZ move closer together.