US Army soldiers, Afghan National Army soldiers and a New Zealand Army soldier in 2008 being transported into the Spira mountains in Khost province, 5kms from the Afghan-Pakistan Border. Photo: AFP / David Furst
The Prime Minister says the government would be open to sending soldiers as peacekeepers in Ukraine if a ceasefire was reached.
"I think that is something we'd be open to, but obviously it's speculative at this point, but we do support a lot of peacekeeping missions around the world and this is something that we would be open to working through," Christopher Luxon told Morning Report.
As of April, there were about 97 NZ Defence Force (NZDF) personnel deployed throughout Europe as part of Operation Tīeke, which it says contributes to international efforts to assist Ukraine in its self-defence. They are not mandated to enter Ukraine.
Where are Defence Force staff deployed?
Golan Heights / Lebanon / Syria
Up to eight military observers are deployed in New Zealand's largest current contribution to a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission.
Their tasks include patrolling and monitoring ceasefires and military activity within the region.
Egypt
There are up to 28 personnel in Egypt, including drivers, driver trainers, electricians, engineers and a command team.
A member of New Zealand's armed forces personnel (centre) passes a weapon back to a Ukraine Army recruit, after giving a demonstration inside a trench, during a trench warfare training session at a British Ministry of Defence training base in southern England on 27 March, 2023. Photo: AFP / Ben Stansall
Bahrain
Up to 20 NZDF personnel are based at operational headquarters for the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational naval partnership which NZDF says "exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters".
Jordan
NZDF says there are less than 10 personnel deployed to an intelligence fusion centre called Operation Gallant Phoenix "where partners collect and share information about potential and existing terrorist threats, irrespective of threat ideology".
New Zealand Defence Force and Police personnel head to Honiara. Photo: NZ Defence Force
North Asia
Maritime patrol aircraft, personnel and naval assets are deployed to North Asia in support of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
"Maritime surveillance patrols detect and deter sanctions evasion activities such as ship-to-ship transfers of illicit goods at sea."
South Korea
Twelve staff are deployed to the United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea.
Seven are currently deployed to the UNC Headquarters and five are deployed to the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission.
In June 2024, Cabinet agreed to up to an additional 41 personnel; up to six for the UNC Honour Guard and up to 35 for the UNC Security Battalion.
There are also up to three personnel in South Sudan, a number in the South Pacific and South East Asia regions and four in Solomon Islands.
An NZDF protection soldier observes ISF troops. Photo: New Zealand Defence Force
Other recent peacekeeping deployments
Red Sea
The Defence Force says up to six staff were deployed deployed to uphold maritime security in the Red Sea. Their deployment was mandated to end 31 January.
"The personnel, with specialist skills, provide support to coalition forces to carry out precision attacks on identified Houthi military targets."
Afghanistan
Following 9/11, more than 3500 NZDF personnel were deployed in Afghanistan over 20 years until a withdrawal in 2021.
Iraq
In 2015, 143 soldiers were sent to Iraq as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the last soldiers were withdrawn in 2023.
Timor-Leste
The first New Zealand soldiers arrived in Timor-Leste in 1999 and the last were withdrawn in 2012.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage says over two periods, from 1999 to 2002 and from 2006 to 2012, approximately 7000 New Zealanders deployed to Timor-Leste, first to support the country in its transition to independence and then again after violence broke out in 2006.
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