In a significant move to deepen military cooperation and reaffirm support for Ukraine, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to welcome New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to the UK on Tuesday. The leaders will seek to reinforce long-standing defence ties and enhance collaboration between their armed forces as they jointly face rising global threats.
Central to their visit will be a trip to a British military base where personnel from both nations are training Ukrainian soldiers as part of Operation Interflex — the UK’s flagship initiative launched to upskill Ukrainian forces amid their ongoing struggle against Russian aggression. The programme has already trained more than 54,000 Ukrainian troops since its inception.
Prime Minister Luxon is expected to confirm that New Zealand will extend its commitment to Operation Interflex until the end of 2025, underlining Wellington’s ongoing resolve to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic resilience.
In a further display of unity, Sir Keir is expected to unveil a new £30 million agreement to purchase drones manufactured by SYOS Aerospace, a New Zealand-headquartered firm with production facilities in Hampshire. The drones, designed for battlefield reconnaissance and defence operations, will be supplied to Ukraine, reflecting the increasingly critical role unmanned aerial technology plays in modern warfare. Notably, drones now account for more battlefield casualties than traditional artillery, a sign of their growing impact in the conflict.
Beyond immediate military concerns, the two leaders will instruct their respective defence ministers to initiate discussions on a new and updated bilateral defence partnership, replacing the current agreement signed in 2015. The new framework is expected to reflect the evolving nature of global security threats and the deepening strategic interests shared by the UK and New Zealand.
The two countries already enjoy a robust military and intelligence relationship, being core members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. The Royal New Zealand Navy has also committed a frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha, to join the UK’s carrier strike group departing Portsmouth for the Indian Ocean this week — a visible demonstration of their operational cooperation.
Sir Keir Starmer praised the enduring camaraderie between the UK and New Zealand, saying:
“From the beaches of Gallipoli to the vital work we have been doing together on Operation Interflex and our support for Ukraine, 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 – stepping up our defence spending, deploying our navies together in the Indo-Pacific, and continuing our work to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia.”
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Later in the day, Mr Luxon will be received at 10 Downing Street, where the two leaders are expected to hold bilateral discussions on a broader set of issues, including trade, economic cooperation, and shared strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific.
The talks will build on the strong trade links already established under the UK–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which came into force in 2023. There is mutual interest in enhancing access to each other’s markets, particularly in green technologies, digital trade, and agricultural innovation.
This visit marks Prime Minister Luxon’s first official trip to the UK since taking office and comes at a time when Western democracies are seeking to strengthen alliances in the face of mounting geopolitical tensions, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Both leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the rules-based international order and pledge continued support to Ukraine’s defence — a message of unity and resolve that underscores the vital importance of partnerships in securing global peace.
