London: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday contracts worth £30 million for drones produced by SYOS Aerospace, a New Zealand unmanned vehicle manufacturer based in Hampshire, England, to support Ukraine.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this announcement came as Prime Minister Starmer hosted New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The leaders visited the training of Ukrainian forces by the UK and New Zealand military as part of Operation Interflex. The British-led multinational military operation began in July 2022 to train and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
New Zealand trainers have collaborated with their British counterparts to help train more than 54,000 soldiers under Operation Interflex. New Zealand is expected to confirm that they will extend their support for the initiative in the UK until the end of the year.
During the visit to witness the training firsthand in the South West of England, the leaders discussed plans to enhance defense and security cooperation. Defense ministers from both countries have been instructed to work on a new joint defense partnership to ensure the relationship is equipped for the twenty-first century.
The partnership between the UK and New Zealand plays a role in maintaining stability and security across Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific regions.
Prime Minister Starmer stated, "The vital work we have been doing together on Operation Interflex and our support for Ukraine shows that the UK and New Zealand have stood shoulder-to-shoulder for generations in pursuit of peace and stability. As the world becomes an increasingly dangerous place, I am proud of how much we are doing together to support our national and economic security."
The UK and New Zealand are also enhancing collaboration in the agriculture technology sector. A new Investor Partnership deal will see New Zealand investing in British small and medium enterprises to develop equipment supporting growth, farming sustainability, and food security.
Total trade in goods and services between the UK and New Zealand was £3.6 billion in the 12 months leading to September 2024, marking an increase of 5.3 percent, or £179 million in current prices, from the previous 12 months up to September 2023.