Australia is arming itself: Record military spending planned

This is the largest increase in the military budget outside of war in the country's history, said Defense Minister Richard Marles.

Expenditure is to rise to three percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Previously, 2.3 percent had been planned. The background to this is growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific and an increasingly uncertain global situation.

Alliance with the USA remains "fundamental"

Marles has now presented the new security strategy in Canberra. The aim is to make Australia more powerful militarily - but without calling into question the alliance with the USA. This remains "fundamental" to national security, he explained.

Among other things, the government is responding to China's growing influence in the region by increasing spending. Marles emphasized that a stable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific would be inconceivable without the military presence of the USA.

Where is the money going?

In total, Australia's defense spending will amount to around 887 billion Australian dollars over the next ten years. The additional funds will primarily go towards missile and air defense, new weapons systems and the expansion of unmanned and autonomous technologies.

The Aukus security alliance founded in 2021 together with the USA and the UK will also remain central. The alliance is intended to support Australia in the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. According to current plans, the costs for this could amount to up to 130 billion Australian dollars over the coming decade.