Cook Islands May Cut New Zealand Ties
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SYDNEY, Australia — The Cook Islands threatened Thursday to break its ties with New Zealand and become neutral if nations in the region ratify a nuclear-free-zone treaty for the South Pacific later this year.
Prime Minister Thomas Davis said that if the island country declares neutrality, it will take responsibility for its own defense with an arsenal of just 18 British-made Lee Enfield rifles.
“I’ve given them (New Zealand officials) my alternative,” Davis said. “We could become neutral.”
Davis made the comments in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Commission at Suva, capital of the Fiji Islands.
The Cook Islands, about 2,000 miles northeast of New Zealand, is a self-governing overseas territory of New Zealand, which is responsible for its defense.
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