Insider Brief
- New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join the US-led Operation Olympic Defender, a multinational initiative aimed at deterring hostile actions in space and reducing space debris.
- Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, emphasized the country’s commitment to responsible space behaviour and maintaining control over its forces, stating that the liaison officer will remain under the command of the New Zealand Defence Force.
- This decision aligns New Zealand with other Five Eyes intelligence partners—Australia, the UK, and Canada—who are already members of the program.
New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join the US-led Operation Olympic Defender, a multinational initiative aimed at deterring hostile actions in space and reducing space debris. The US invited New Zealand, France, and Germany to join the effort in April. New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, Judith Collins, noted that the country would send a liaison officer to US Space Command for two years to gain valuable experience in space defence.
This decision aligns New Zealand with other Five Eyes intelligence partners—Australia, the UK, and Canada—who are already members of the program. Collins emphasized New Zealand’s commitment to responsible space behavior and maintaining control over its forces, stating that the liaison officer will remain under the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) command.
Initially overseen by the US Department of Defense, Operation Olympic Defender focuses heavily on military collaboration between allies to counter potential threats in space. The initiative supports the integration of allied space capabilities into US-led operations, contributing to civilian and military space safety.
Collins pointed out that space-based technology plays a crucial role in New Zealand’s national security. Satellites support maritime supply chains, enable GPS services, and help track illegal activities such as unauthorized fishing.
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