" Prime Minister John Key's visit to Washington next week could be used to announce a return of United States marines to New Zealand soil, symbolising the resumption of closer military relations decades on from the Anzus rupture.
The visit would coincide with the 70th anniversary of the arrival of marines in New Zealand in 1942 and, while seen as symbolically significant, would be less politically sensitive than a visit by a US naval ship – the catalyst for the Anzus bust-up in the 1980s over New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance."
I think all this will achieve is a benefit for the US and a photo opportunity for President Obama and Prime Minister Key.
" Mr Key will use his trip to press the case for a regional trade pact – the Trans-Pacific Partnership – and will also have meetings in Silicon Valley with executives from social media giants Facebook and Google and representatives of The Hobbit co-producer New Line Cinema.
But his meeting with Mr Obama is also expected to canvass closer defence ties, including New Zealand's involvement in Afghanistan.
Lance Beath, Victoria University senior fellow in defence studies, said a ship visit would be the most obvious gesture to make to symbolise warmer defence relations. "
You have to love the spin, the TPP is more about Asia than the US from a NZ perspective and America under both Democrats and Republicans have shown time and again the don't give a rats arse about free trade so I would suggest why the hell bother with them.
As for a ship visit good luck President Obama selling that to the Pentagon, remember that your military wouldn't allow our warships to dock at American Naval bases last year when on a Australia / New Zealand good will visit.
But his meeting with Mr Obama is also expected to canvass closer defence ties, including New Zealand's involvement in Afghanistan.
Most New Zealanders are uncomfortable with our involvement in Afghanistan and it seems quite a price to pay for a PM photo opportunity.
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