Geoffrey Miller: Geopolitical Analyst on the meeting between Christopher Luxon and Keir Starmer

Christopher Luxon and Sir Keir Starmer have reaffirmed the close ties between New Zealand and the UK. 

Luxon says the relationship between the two countries is strong, and he'd like to deepen ties around defence and security. 

The pair discussed their support for Ukraine, with Starmer announcing a multi-million dollar deal to buy Kiwi-made drones. 

Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Francesca Rudkin Ukraine is front and centre of the agenda at the moment, but it’s not the only thing on it, with trade being another focus.  

However, he says Luxon will need to be careful about what he says about defence, as China will be watching. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Prime Minister Christopher Luxen meet with his British counterparts of
Kerestarma overnight, announcing a new agreement to deeper defense and
security ties. The UK has signed a sixty million dollar
deal with New Zealand for the supply of drones to
support Ukraine, and the pair also visited Kiwi troops training
frontline Ukrainian soldiers. Jeffrey Miller is a geopolitical analyst and
he joins me, now, thanks for your time, Jeffrey, Good morning,

(00:21):
franch esca. How significant is this drone deal?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Look, I think it is significant for the company and
who knew that we had a company in Mount Long
and Ui producing these kinds of drones and they do
so out of a factory near London in the southeast
of England. So those drones will be heading off to Ukraine.
So I think Christopher Luxin is very keen to emphasize
New Zealand support for Ukraine on this trip. There's a

(00:50):
major meeting in London, I believe today with issues from Europe,
the US and Ukraine. Nothing out some of the details
of peace proposal that will then be put to Russia,
and that could include Ukraine's recognition of Crimera as Russian
territory or international recognition of Crimeras as Russian territory, which

(01:13):
would be a very very significant concession by Ukraine to
make and buy its Western partners. So I think Ukraine
really is front and center of the agenda at the moment.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Will you create, sorry, will Luxon get much of a
voice in these geopolitical moves or will he just be
doing what the big dogs tell him.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
I think you'll be keen to put New Zealand's perspective
on all of these matters. In the end. That is
Christopher Luxen's job as New Zealand Prime minister. I think
really does say he should be very mindful about others
who are watching. I think it's very easy for New
Zealand prime ministers to go to Number ten or go
to the White House, etc. And be quite starstruck about
where they are and then agree to things that or

(01:51):
say things that really are more the view of their partners.
In this case, Kiirstarma, I think Crystal election should be
well that China in particular will be watching what Christopher
Luxen says on all things defense. Christopher Luxeen may well
be keen to hype up some of the hawkish rhetoric,

(02:12):
given that New Zealand put out that quite strong defense
capability plan a couple of weeks ago. But I think
China will see some of that has aimed very much
at it. Whenever the talk goes about the Endo Pacific,
I think China feels targeted. And Christopher Luxen is visiting London,
his visits in many capitals now, he still hasn't made
a visit to Beijing, so I think Luxan needs to

(02:35):
be careful about what he says and to make sure
that there's very much in line with New Zealand's interests.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
Will the UK appreciate the ongoing support from New Zealand
and training Ukraine soldiers.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
No doubt. I mean the United Kingdom and in Europe generally,
Ukraine has so much the focus at the moment, while
New Zealand is in a very different part of the
world and has a wider view. Perhaps or we're more
focused on the Asia Pacific or Into Pacific as it's
often called now as well as Ukraine. If you're in Europe,

(03:08):
Ukraine really is the centerpiece. So I think that's really
why Ukraine is a big part of the agenda. But
train of course is also going to be a big
part of the talks. We're approaching Donald Trump's first one
hundred days in office, and it's been a whirl win
one hundred days, and those tariffs that were announced on
Liberation Day, as Trump called it, I have only been suspended.

(03:30):
They haven't been canceled. There's only a ninety day Postponeman.
So I think Starma and LUXELM will be really discussing
about where to from here, what's the game plan. And
again I think Lux needs to be careful when he
comes up with his proposals. We put out that proposal
a couple of weeks ago that the CPTPP could work
with the EU, the United Kingdom's already in the CPTPP

(03:52):
or the Transpacific Partnership. I think he needs to Lux
needs to be careful here because again China will be watching.
China has already applied to join the CPTPP, and China
is the main target of Donald Trump's tariffs of up
to two hundred and forty five percent now and they
haven't been suspended. So I think when you're there, you

(04:13):
should be probably showing some level of solidarity with China,
which is after all New Zealand's biggest trading partner, and
talks of just bringing the EU into the CPTPP I
think are a little bit premature, and the EU is
not particularly supportive of true free trade, so there'll be
a lot to talk about, no doubt, and that meeting

(04:34):
I believe has been happening over the last few hours
start in New UK time, Jeffrey.

Speaker 1 (04:39):
We've got a lot of world leaders converging at the
Pope's funeral. Should Luxon be there, I think.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
You showed I mean, certainly if he's over already in
the United Kingdom, he's heading to Turkey for Anzac Day.
It seems that the stars are aligned in a way
with the sad passing of the Pope's death, and it
would be easy for Luxelan to head back to Rome
for the fun before heading back to New Zealand. I
don't know whether that's been confirmed yet. You would surely

(05:07):
think that luck would take that option if it's available,
because of the sideline opportunities, And as your correspondent was mentioning,
there's going to be a big parade of world leaders
there from across Europe and further afield, including Trump himself,
including Vladimer Zelenski and Manual M. Kran All manner of
leaders are going to be there, so it would be
a good opportunity for some sideline conversations, much in the

(05:30):
same way that the Queen's funeral brought together a lot
of world leaders back in twenty twenty two.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
Absolutely, thank you Jeffrey Miller. Thank you very much for
your time this morning. Appreciate it. For more from early
edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to news Talks it'd
be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.