Australia to Increase Defense Spending Amid Global Conflicts
Australia plans to increase its defense expenditure to 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2033, up from approximately 2% currently, the government announced on Thursday. This comes amidst a rise in global conflicts, as President Donald Trump pressures U.S. allies to increase their military spending.
“The international norms that once limited the use of force and military coercion continue to erode,” Defense Minister Richard Marles wrote in a speech scheduled for Thursday, with excerpts seen by AFP. “Today, the number of countries involved in conflicts is higher than at any other time since the end of World War II, affecting all regions of the world,” he added.
Australia Concerned about Strengthening Chinese Navy
Canberra’s previous target for defense spending was set at 2.3% of GDP by 2024, aiming to reach 3% by 2033. The announcement on Thursday implies additional military spending of 53 billion Australian dollars (32.2 billion euros), according to defense ministry officials.
To achieve the 3% goal, Australia has adjusted its defense budget calculation to align with NATO’s definition, which includes elements like military pensions.
Worried about the expansion of the Chinese navy, Australia has been modernizing its defense in recent years to deter any potential threats from the north. In 2021, it signed the Aukus defense partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom, among others, to acquire nuclear-powered submarines over the next decade.
