Helen Clark has launched a fresh broadside against the New Zealand government she once led for shifting its strategic outlook, following confirmation from AUKUS members that Wellington is consulting on joining the military tie-up.
The trilateral pact between Australia, the UK and US aims to curb China's growing influence in the Pacific region.
At the centre of the pact is a deal to see Australia armed with nuclear-powered submarines in the 2030s, and begin building its own in the 2040s.
It is a highly controversial deal for many reasons, notably, the eye-watering cost to Australia, the perceived antagonisation of China, and nuclear proliferation in the region.
Joint Statement PM — Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (@pmc_gov_au) @AlboMP @Keir_Starmer @POTUS: Joint Leaders Statement to Mark the Third Anniversary of AUKUS https://t.co/dq3guIWpAu pic.twitter.com/Y581M3fET4September 17, 2024
Since its 2021 announcement, AUKUS collaboration has expanded into a second non-nuclear pillar on "advanced capabilities" such as undersea warfare, cyber technologies and AI.
Earlier in 2024, AUKUS countries announced they would collaborate with Japan on pillar two, and in a statement issued early on Wednesday, the leaders of the three AUKUS nations confirmed advanced talks with three more nations.
"Recognising these countries' close bilateral defense partnerships with each member of AUKUS, we are consulting with Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea to identify possibilities for collaboration on advanced capabilities under AUKUS Pillar II," the statement read.
Since taking office in November, Chris Luxon's conservative coalition government has moved to align NZ with the strategic outlook shared by Australians and Americans.
On a trip to Canberra this year, Mr Luxon said he wanted Kiwi defence to be a "force multiplier" to Australia - New Zealand's sole defence ally.
His government has also delayed a defence capability review, which will outline key procurement needs for the next decade, to better integrate with Australian forces.
This has concerned many on the left of New Zealand politics including Ms Clark, prime minister from 1999 to 2008.
She argues an AUKUS partnership threatens economic ties with China, is undemocratic, and could lead to a formal alliance with Washington.
"The latest AUKUS statement by US, UK, Australia on identifying how NZ could collaborate with Pillar 2 is part of stepped up choreography towards NZ signing up (to) a US-led military relationship," she posted on social media.
"There was no pre-election warning from those now in government in NZ of an intention to move NZ back into such relationships."
Unlike Australia, New Zealand does not have a defence alliance with the United States, having abandoned the ANZUS treaty in the 1980s in a spat over nuclear warships.
Ms Clark believes a shift closer to Washington's orbit marks an end to NZ's carefully crafted foreign policy of recent decades, calibrated to enjoy good relations with both Beijing and Washington.
She noted the US did not offer New Zealand a security guarantee, as it did NATO allies, or a free trade deal, as it does Australia.
"The current NZ govt continues to signal clearly an end to nearly four decades of NZ's independent foreign policy - in return for economic insecurity & being led along by the strategic objectives of others," she said.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he wanted more detail from the government over the talks.
Mr Luxon said it would be "speculative" to get into the substance of talks, which were about "exploring opportunities".
Despite the statement from US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese naming up the talks, Kiwi deputy prime minister and foreign minister Winston Peters said New Zealand was yet to consider an AUKUS partnership.
"We haven't even contemplated (joining) yet, we haven't been invited yet," he said.
Also on Wednesday, the Australian Greens and New Zealand Greens issued their opposition to the pact.