I don't think there's a particularly right or wrong answer in response to the tariffs, but we should be seriously considering our security posture which ties us so heavily to the USA.

There has always been an unspoken risk by being tied so closely to the US; but as their interest in & ability to defend their allies wanes those risks move from the unlikely to likely.

Some will argue we can't take an independent position as we'll just get pulled in the orbit of some bloc against our will anyway. Its difficult to have a good answer on where we should align ourselves.

[–] BalpeenHammer@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We could lobby for EU membership I suppose

[–] BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.uk 2 points 1 week ago

I'd kinda like CANZUK to be a thing.

[–] BalpeenHammer@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We don't have to tie ourselves to the USA, we have other options. We could seek closer ties to India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and other nations near us. I think what's preventing us from doing this is frankly just bigotry.

Today, BRICS countries are home to roughly 3.3 billion people — over 40% of the global population. The BRICS economies also account for an estimated 37.3% of global gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity. We could join BRICS but we won't, we could join the EU but they might not have us.

[–] TagMeInSkipIGotThis@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't think its just bigotry, there's a load of tradition and history that ties particularly Pakeha New Zealand to the west. And without devolving into bothsidesism (although, obviously it is) some people do have questions about aligning with regimes accused of human rights abuses and what not.

I think NZ does need to start having the discussion though; the old assumptions and alliances are bending and its foolish not to ask where our future alignment is best placed.

[–] BalpeenHammer@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 week ago

When you say "aligning with regimes accused of human rights abuses" you mean the USA, UK, Israel, France, Germany etc right?