Longstanding defence deployments extended

The Government has approved two-year extensions for five existing international New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployments, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Chris Penk announced today.

“For years, New Zealand has worked with our partners to contribute to international peace and security efforts. As the global security situation continues to deteriorate, we are committed to continuing our longstanding efforts to promote stability in our region and beyond because New Zealand’s prosperity relies on our success,” Mr Peters says. 

“These deployments will see more than 100 NZDF personnel as well as ship and aircraft crews serving alongside our partners to undertake numerous peacekeeping, monitoring and security missions from locations in the Middle East and North Asia,” Mr Penk says.

Up to 51 personnel will contribute to the United Nations Command (UNC) and its Military Armistice Commission in the Republic of Korea. The NZDF has contributed to the UNC and its Military Armistice Commission since 1998, and this deployment has been extended until 30 September 2028.

The NZDF’s contribution of up to 28 personnel to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) has been extended until 30 September 2028. The MFO, based in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, supports implementation of the Egypt-Israel Treaty of Peace. New Zealand has contributed to the MFO for more than 40 years.

Up to 14 personnel will contribute to New Zealand’s long-standing commitments to Middle East maritime security efforts, for a further two years until 30 June 2028. 

This contributes to well-established multinational coalitions, supporting efforts to counter smuggling, piracy, terrorism and illegal unregulated and unreported fishing. New Zealand has been contributing to these efforts since the mid-1990s.

New Zealand will continue to contribute eight NZDF personnel to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East for a further two years until 30 September 2028. UNTSO personnel are deployed across Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, to monitor regional ceasefires, and supervise armistice agreements in the region. New Zealand has contributed to this mission since 1954, making it New Zealand’s longest-running deployment.

Three personnel, and crews aboard New Zealand air and naval assets will take part in North Korea sanctions monitoring, operating out of Japan, helping to detect activities that contravene United Nations Security Council sanctions. New Zealand has contributed to UN sanctions monitoring – by air and sea – since 2018. This deployment has been extended until 30 September 2028.

“Longstanding deployments like these show our willingness to step up on the world stage and contribute to collective security. They also provide our personnel with opportunities to use their skills and experience and increase interoperability,” Mr Penk says. ...