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common designation for a mutual-defense pact between Australia, New Zealand (until 1986), and the U.S. Signed on Sept. 1, 1951, it came into force when ratified by all three signatories on April 29, 1952. Although ANZUS established no integrated force structure, the three nations cooperated closely on defense matters during the first three decades after the treaty took effect. The relationship between the participants changed in 1985, when the New Zealand government announced that it would grant port access only to those American warships which the U.S. Navy stated were neither nuclear-powered nor held nuclear weapons. Because the latter condition contravened a long-standing policy against either affirming or denying the presence of nuclear weapons on specific U.S. vessels, the U.S. in 1986 suspended its defense obligations to New Zealand. Since then, Australia and the U.S. have continued to cooperate bilaterally under the terms of ANZUS. Military ties between Australia and New Zealand remain close, but outside the ANZUS framework.
An article from Funk & Wagnalls® New Encyclopedia. © 2006 World Almanac Education Group. A WRC Media Company. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by
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