The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have signed Plan Tasman, a new framework aimed at strengthening naval integration, interoperability and cooperation between the two services.
Signed by Deputy Chief of the RNZN, Commodore Karl Woodhead, and Deputy Chief of the RAN, Rear Admiral Darren Grogan, Plan Tasman translates shared strategic objectives into coordinated action across personnel, training, capability development, warfighting, engineering, regulation and international engagement.
The agreement is expected to enhance collaboration, information sharing, training and operational alignment between the two navies, strengthening their ability to operate together in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security environment.
Furthermore, the signing supports both nations' commitment to closer defence relations and a shared vision of increasingly integrated naval cooperation, to support a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Commodore Woodhead commented on the strength of the relationship, while highlighting the need to build on the tradition of cooperation to meet the challenges of the current security environment.
“Our maritime relationship was established over 160 years ago, strengthened over generations in times of both war and peacetime cooperation. As our region becomes increasingly contested against the backdrop of a deteriorating global security environment, our strategic guidance is to deepen and formalise the alliance."
“Plan Tasman is exactly that, signalling a shift from a history of cooperation based on tradition to integration by design.”
Rear Admiral Grogan said Plan Tasman reinforces the longstanding maritime relationship between Australia and New Zealand.
"Plan Tasman builds on generations of cooperation between our navies and provides a practical framework to strengthen the way we train, operate and develop capability together."
"As close neighbours, trusted partners and allies, this agreement will help ensure our navies remain ready to operate side-by-side and respond to shared challenges in support of regional security, stability and prosperity."
Plan Tasman follows the signing of the Tasman Navy Framework by the RNZN and RAN chiefs in November 2024, which established a framework for strategic engagement between the two navies.