John Bolton says New Zealand’s Nuclear Policy was a Mistake

October 9, 2024 TruthUSA

The former US National Security Advisor emphasized that New Zealand should acknowledge the distinction between nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor and Ambassador to the United Nations, cautioned that New Zealand could isolate itself if it continues to prohibit nuclear-powered vessels from entering its waters. He stressed the importance of understanding that there is a difference between nuclear weapons and nuclear power, especially on naval warships.

In an interview with Radio NZ, Bolton, who served as U.S. Assistant Attorney General during the ban’s implementation in 1984, expressed his disagreement with New Zealand’s policy but noted that the United States has learned to navigate around it.

He urged New Zealand to consider its position in an increasingly dangerous world, emphasizing that being isolated could pose greater risks. New Zealand gained global attention for its ban, particularly during a time when France was conducting nuclear weapon tests in the Pacific until 1996.

During the ban, when the United States refused to confirm if its ships were nuclear-powered, then Prime Minister David Lange famously defended the government’s decision with his “uranium on your breath” speech at the Oxford Union in 1985.

US Now More Accepting of NZ’s Position

Incidents such as the Five Mile Island and Chernobyl meltdowns further reinforced New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance.

The ban strained diplomatic relations with the United States, leading to New Zealand’s suspension from the Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS).

While full defense cooperation was restored in 2012, New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy remains intact.

Bolton hopes that New Zealanders will reconsider their position and align with the US agenda in the Pacific, although recent research indicates this possibility is slim.recent research suggests

He acknowledged technological advancements since past nuclear incidents, emphasizing the need to differentiate between nuclear weapons and nuclear energy.

While the United States is now more accommodating of New Zealand’s stance than in the 1980s, Bolton expressed that it would not hinder their relations. He also highlighted how New Zealand’s opposition to nuclear propulsion disqualifies it from AUKUS Pillar One but mentioned the potential for participation in Pillar Two for technology and intelligence exchange.

Expressing a personal desire for New Zealand to also join Pillar One, Bolton concluded his remarks.

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