The Australian military will be “focused” and more financially supported over the next ten years, according to Defense Minister Richard Marles, who announced this on Wednesday. This is in response to “increasing strategic competition between the U.S. and China.”
On April 17, Australia concurrently announced two important documents, the “Integrated Investment Program 2024” and its first “National Defence Strategy 2024,” pledging to increase defence spending to A$765 billion (about US$491 billion) over the following ten years.
According to such a trend, the government estimated that the annual defence spending in 2033–2034 would exceed A$100 billion, or 2.4% of GDP.
A 2023 assessment that found the nation’s armed forces were “not fully fit for purpose” as a result of deteriorating strategic conditions in the area suggested Marles present Australia’s first National Defence Strategy, a biannual plan.
He stated that the “vast bulk” of Australia’s actions will be directed towards maintaining stability in the region and protecting maritime traffic.
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“The most complex strategic circumstances since the end of World War II have demanded the biggest reassessment of our strategic posture in 35 years,” Marles stated. “Invasion of Australia is an unlikely prospect in any scenario precisely because so much damage can be done to our country by an adversary without ever having to step foot on Australian soil.”
A stronger navy and the purchase of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement, a tripartite agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom to develop submarines for Australia, according to Marles, are “at the heart” of the country’s “strategy of denial” approach, which tries to keep the country from being forced into action.
He announced that over the next four years, an additional AU5.7 billion over the previous funding trajectory will be allocated, with AU1 billion going toward the development of long-range missile capabilities and the purchase of robotic and autonomous systems.
According to Defense News, the 80-page defence policy, which was made public on Wednesday, stated that China has been using “coercive tactics in pursuit of its strategic objectives” and that there is a growing likelihood of conflict in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and other hotspots.
“As China’s strategic and economic weight grows, Australia expects it will continue to seek to play a more prominent role in the region,” it said. “This will include leveraging all elements of its power as it pursues its strategic objectives, including changing the current regional balance in its favour.”
The 2024 Integrated Investment Program (IIP), which was unveiled concurrently with the plan and delineated investment and capacity goals for the ensuing ten years, contained the financial specifics.
It allows at least AU330 billion to be spent on defence, meaning that by 2034, defence spending as a share of GDP will have increased to almost 2.4%. At the moment, it is approximately 2%.
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The government has increased defence spending, according to defence expert Jennifer Parker, even if the extra AU50 billion announced on Wednesday contained some previously disclosed pledges.
“There is AU$5.7 billion in the next four years; AU$1 billion of that was not expected,” stated Parker, an expert associate at the National Security College at the Australian National University.
She acknowledged the additional funding but added that there will still be a vulnerable period because many of the skills Australia is seeking won’t be available until the late 2030s and early 2040s.
“The issue is, is it enough and is it in the right time frame?” Parker questioned, claiming that the government had moved “too late.”
“We need to be clear with the public on the risk,” Parker stated.
