Australia to spend $270b building larger military to prepare for 'poorer, more dangerous' world
Australia will build a larger and more aggressive military focused on its immediate backyard, including new long-range missiles, signalling a major shift in the nation's defence strategy.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will unveil a greater focus on the Indo-Pacific region, warning Australia needs to prepare for a post-COVID-19 world that is "poorer, more dangerous and more disorderly".
Mr Morrison will also announce a commitment to spend $270 billion over the next decade on defence capabilities, including more potent strike weapons, cyber capabilities and a high-tech underwater surveillance system.
Over the next decade the Australian Defence Force is expected to grow by 800 people, comprising 650 personnel for Navy, 100 for the Air Force, and 50 for Army.
In a speech at the Australian Defence Force Academy Mr Morrison will argue the Indo-Pacific is the "epicentre" of rising strategic competition and "the risk of miscalculation — and even conflict — is heightening".
"The Indo-Pacific is where we live — and we want an open, sovereign Indo-Pacific, free from coercion and hegemony," a copy of the speech says.
"We remain prepared to make military contributions outside of our immediate region where it is in our national interest to do so, including in support of US-led coalitions.
"But we cannot allow consideration of such contingencies to drive our force structure to the detriment of ensuring we have credible capability to respond to any challenge in our immediate region."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-30/government-unveils-10-year-defence-strategy/12408232
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