Can the Buchanan's ghost be exorcised? Dick Gentles considers New Zealand-United States relations and the nuclear issue.

• Author: Gentles, Dick
• Position: US warship USS Buchanan

On 1 February 1985 the New Zealand government under Prime Minister David Lange refused permission for the US warship USS Buchanan to enter New Zealand ports. Thus began the longstanding differences between the two countries over New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation that prohibits nuclear-propelled ships from entering New Zealand ports. This issue has not gone away. It has resurfaced recently in the context of New Zealand pursuing a free trade agreement with the United States, New Zealand's second largest trading partner. (1)

Whether the non-nuclear issue is a real barrier to securing a free trade deal with the United States is open to speculation but, in any case, is there a way to make the problem go away?

One obvious solution is for New Zealand to scrap its nuclear-free legislation. Another is for the United States to let bygones be bygones and put aside any differences over what most see as historical events with little relevance today. Neither is likely to happen.

For the United States, the issue has strategic consequences beyond the narrow context of its relationship with New Zealand that are as relevant today as they were in 1985, and probably more so. More about that later.

A nuclear-free New Zealand has taken hold as part of the New Zealand psyche and is held sacrosanct by most New Zealanders. Any meddling in this area by a government could be political suicide. (2) Despite this, the National Party appears to be of the view that making some changes to the legislation is the only way of dealing with the issue. In its May 2004 paper on New Zealand-United States relations, the idea was floated of repealing Section 11 of the Act that prohibits visits by nuclear-propelled vessels and replacing it with a policy, unencumbered by legislation, which would have the same effect. This idea is modelled after what was portrayed as the successful way the Danish government resolved its nuclear differences with the United States.

Would this model work for New Zealand?

Danish solution

In 1957 Denmark adopted a policy of prohibiting the stationing of foreign troops or nuclear arms on its territory. The policy was a response to the Cold War situation when Denmark was an exposed frontline state threatened by the Soviet Union. The policy, which was also adopted by Norway, was designed to keep the Baltic an area of low tension. It was part of an attempt to maintain what was called 'the Nordic balance' that would prevent East-West confrontations leading to military conflict in the Nordic area.

It is important to note that the policy applies 'under the present conditions'. This was a term used to let the Soviets know that it would change should the Soviets mount any threat against Denmark or Norway. It also meant that the policy would only apply in peacetime. Should war occur, Denmark's NATO membership would put it under the alliance's nuclear umbrella.

The policy was explicit only in terms of nuclear weapons--not nuclear-propelled vessels. It does not play a very large part in current Danish foreign or security policy. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website does not mention the policy, nor...