MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced Thursday that his country will dramatically increase military expenditures by 53 billion Australian dollars ($38 billion) over the coming decade, pointing to the ongoing Iran conflict as a key factor destabilizing worldwide security.
During the release of Australia’s updated two-year defense strategy, Marles outlined plans to expand the nation’s defense budget from its current 2.8% of gross domestic product to 3% by 2033, stating that “Australia faces its most complex and threatening strategic circumstances since the end of World War II.”
When questioned about how significantly Australia’s security environment has deteriorated since the February attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, Marles responded to journalists: “I don’t think anyone could honestly answer that question.”
“It greatly complicates the global strategic landscape,” Marles explained. “The world feels less safe.”
“Having said that, we do very much support the strategic objective of denying Iran a deployable nuclear weapon,” Marles continued.
The Defense Minister emphasized that the decision to raise military spending to 3% of GDP was not made in response to demands from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
In January, the Pentagon issued its National Defense Strategy, which criticized U.S. allies for not taking greater responsibility for their own security needs.
Marles stressed that Australia was making independent decisions about resource allocation.
“What that has yielded to date is, under our government, the biggest peacetime increase in defense spending that our nation has seen,” Marles stated.
The new spending framework will emphasize Australian self-reliance, though Marles clarified this should not be interpreted as complete military independence.
“This is not about jettisoning alliance relationships. To the contrary, alliances, especially with the United States, will always be fundamental to Australia’s defense,” Marles explained.
The most significant component of Australia’s defense expansion will be acquiring a minimum of eight submarines equipped with U.S. nuclear technology through the AUKUS alliance with the United States and Britain.
Officials estimate the submarine program will cost between AU$268 billion ($193 billion) and AU$368 billion ($264 billion) across three decades.
