Australia and New Zealand say cyber attacks could trigger their mutual defence pact.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon have confirmed that a “sufficiently severe” cyberattack on either nation could trigger a joint defence response under the ANZUS Treaty. 

This announcement marks a historic shift in how the two countries approach cyber warfare and their longstanding alliance.

Albanese and Luxon made a statement following bilateral talks in Canberra, where they emphasised the growing importance of cybersecurity in national defence strategies. 

The leaders outlined that the digital domain is now a critical theatre of modern warfare, comparable to traditional land, sea, and air domains.

“The way we have viewed warfare is changing. An attack on the economy can bring down the operation of an entire society,” Albanese said. 

He reiterated that the ANZUS Treaty, originally signed in 1951, remains relevant in this new era, particularly under Article 4, which could be invoked in response to a severe cyberattack.

Luxon echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the evolving nature of threats in the Pacific region. 

“Modern warfare has moved into cyberspace,” he said. 

“Should New Zealand come under a severe cyberattack, we would invoke the arrangement under our treaties.”

The ANZUS Treaty, originally a trilateral security agreement between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, has evolved since its inception. 

While the US-New Zealand component was effectively suspended in the 1980s due to nuclear policy disagreements, the Australia-New Zealand security pact has remained robust. 

The recent statements by Albanese and Luxon suggest a renewed focus on this alliance, particularly in the context of cybersecurity.

Experts from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) have highlighted the significance of this development. 

Justin Bassi, the executive director of ASPI, pointed out that this is the first time New Zealand has explicitly invoked the ANZUS Treaty in the context of cyber defence, marking a bold shift in Wellington’s foreign policy stance. 

“This acknowledgment by Luxon of the ANZUS Treaty itself is highly significant,” Bassi said.

Beyond cyber defence, the two leaders discussed enhancing overall security cooperation in the Pacific region. 

Australia has recently invested $16.7 million to bolster cybersecurity infrastructure across the Pacific, including partnerships with financial institutions and public bodies in New Zealand and Pacific Island nations.

Additionally, both nations are pushing for a regional policing initiative, which is expected to be endorsed at the Pacific Islands Forum later this month. 

The initiative has received support from most Pacific nations, although there have been concerns from the Solomon Islands, particularly regarding the perceived influence of China in regional security matters.

In a move to further integrate their defence capabilities, Australia and New Zealand are working towards greater interoperability between their military forces.

This includes potential joint procurement projects and shared command structures, seeking a seamless trans-Tasman defence partnership.

“We want to be a force multiplier for Australia,” Luxon said.