1 week ago
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Australia will money the defence capableness it needs, Anthony Albanese says, arsenic the US pushes for spending to summation by tens of billions of dollars.
The petition was made straight by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles connected the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue successful Singapore.
“On defence spending, Secretary Hegseth conveyed that Australia should summation its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its GDP arsenic σύντομα arsenic possible,” a Pentagon statement said.
This would necessitate the national authorities to determination tens of billions of other dollars into the defence budget.
Defence spending, presently 2.0 per cent of gross home product, is connected track to emergence to astir 2.3 per cent by 2033/34.
The 3.5 per cent fig is much than what was antecedently nominated by the main advisor to the US defence secretary.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while the US had asked for a “range of things”, the authorities would find defence spending.
“What you should bash successful defence is determine what you need, your capability, and then supply for it,” helium told reporters successful South Australia connected Monday.
“What we request is things that support us successful existent terms, and that’s what we’ll provide.”
The US has been pushing its allies successful the Indo-Pacific to summation their defence spending to assistance stock the load of deterrence.
After gathering with Mr Hegseth, Mr Marles admitted his US counterpart had relayed Australia should summation its defence spending, but did not accidental by precisely however much.
The defence curate connected Friday said Australia was willing to person that conversation.
But connected Sunday, Mr Albanese said his authorities would determine the nation’s defence policy.
Mr Hegseth told the Asian information summit astatine the weekend that the menace posed by China was existent and could beryllium imminent.
Source: AAP
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