June 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. approved the $1.5 billion sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand, which has pledged to nearly double its military spending as it seeks to boost defence capabilities.
"The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of New Zealand for MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related equipment," the department said in a statement on its website on Friday.
The U.S. under President Donald Trump has been pushing allies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific to boost military spending. New Zealand, a close ally of neighbouring Australia, is increasingly deploying across East Asia in support of Western militaries and their partners amid China's rapid military rise.
"The proposed sale will improve New Zealand’s capability to meet current and future warfare threats by providing greater security for its critical infrastructure," the State Department said, adding that New Zealand would "use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense".
The purchase of the Seahawk helicopters, made by Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky unit, is part of a 2025 plan by New Zealand's centre-right government to boost defence spending by NZ$9 billion ($5 billion) over four years and nearly double spending to 2% of gross domestic product in eight years.
Wellington allocated NZ$1.58 billion ($916 million) last month in new defence funding as it upgrades the island nation's forces.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Saturday that the government remained committed to lifting defence spending after "30 years of underinvestment in defence forces in New Zealand".
"We've moved from a benign environment to a much more globally strategically competitive environment. It's entirely appropriate that we double our defence spending," Luxon said in televised remarks from Australia's Queensland state where he is attending an annual bilateral meeting with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
($1 = 1.7253 New Zealand dollars)
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard and Kim Coghill)
