On Thin Ice: Is the New Zealand Defence Force Ready for the Antarctica of the Future?

Abstract

New Zealand claims 15 percent of the Antarctic continent, known as the Ross Dependency. New Zealand has enjoyed a benign security environment in the region since inheriting the claim from Britain in 1923. Despite the strategic tranquility, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has played a significant role in supporting New Zealand's civilian presence in Antarctica for many years. However, the relative harmony enjoyed in Antarctica during the twentieth-century is increasingly challenged due to a range of factors as diverse as climate change and great power competition. This thesis will contain an analysis of New Zealand's interests on the continent, examine the emerging security threats in the region, and the implications for the NZDF. "On Thin Ice" focuses on drawing recommendations for the strategic direction of the NZDF to be prepared for the Antarctica of the future.

Document Details

• Document Type: Technical Report
• Publication Date: Jun 12, 2020
• Accession Number: AD1124809

Entities

People

• Rodney F. Masters

Organizations

• United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Human Systems
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Climate Change
• Continents
• Defense Systems
• Department Of Defense
• Energy Security
• Environment
• Environmental Protection
• Geography
• Globalization
• Governments
• Intergovernmental Organizations
• International Law
• International Relations
• International Security
• Law
• Literature Surveys
• Logistics
• Military Applications
• Military Capabilities
• National Security
• Ross Sea
• Scientific Research
• United States
• Unmanned Vehicles

Readers

• East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
• European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
• Polar and Arctic Studies