New Zealand is no stranger to tectonic shifts, perched as it is on a volcanic belt, but geopolitical quakes may prove an entirely different matter.

The University of Waikato’s Dr Reuben Steff joins the podcast to argue that without joining the high-tech-focused pillar two of the Australia, UK and US (Aukus) agreement, NZ may find itself at a major disadvantage in the new world order.

Steff argues that not joining Aukus could leave NZ technologically exposed if global tensions boil over.

“ In future conflicts, there may very well be very little competition between militaries that have integrated the most advanced technologies and those that haven't ... In World War I, a country was riding cavalry into battle against tanks. That actually happened in some cases because you had technology changing so quickly, and some countries were able to adapt and adopt the new technology quickly, and other countries were stuck in the past.
“We also know technology is evolving at an exponential rate. We are not going to be able to create these technologies on our own.”

We also discuss US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth ordering a softer cybersecurity stance toward Russia.

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