Australia sticks to guns on defence as allies shell out

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2 days ago

Australia is standing firm against US pressure to lift defence spending but looks "underdone" as European leaders endorse a five per cent commitment of their gross domestic product to security.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would decide its spending levels to meet its military needs.
The move risks a rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who has made clear he expects allies to drastically step up and increase their share of deterrence.
The nation moving to a floor of a three per cent spend on defence was a "prudent minimum", Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said.
He said the defence force had been "hollowed out", so the federal government could afford to invest in future capabilities which might be needed sooner than previously thought.
"Australia in broad terms now is looking rather underdone in terms of defence, having committed just over the 2 per cent GDP equivalent, which was the old NATO target, but that was for a different era," Dr Graham said.
"The narrative has been changed, both by US pressure and let's not forget also the primary factor, which is deteriorating security globally."
NATO members agreed to increase defence and security spending to five per cent of GDP.
But Spain objected to the pledge, prompting Mr Trump to threaten to punish the Iberian nation with a tougher trade deal.
Australia is also seeking to negotiate a reprieve from tariffs imposed by the US on imports, including a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium.
Mr Marles maintained Australia would stick with its own process, which involves the nation's defence spending increasing from two to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34.
"A very significant decision has been made here in relation to European defence spending and that is fundamentally a matter for NATO," he said.
"We'll continue to assess what our needs are going forward. As our prime minister has said, we will resource that."
Mr Marles did not meet with Mr Trump, or US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite intensive efforts by government officials to tee up a first face-to-face of an Australian minister with the US president.
Dr Graham said any embarrassment on Australia's part was mitigated by the limited representation of Asian partners at the summit.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor reiterated the coalition's call for spending to lift to three per cent of the economy.
He took aim at Labor's failure to secure a meeting with Mr Trump, pointing to a flagged sit down with Xi Jinping.
"It seems that the prime minister is better able to get a meeting with the president of China than the president of the United States," Mr Taylor said.
But the defence minister did meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov as Australia reaffirmed its support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
Mr Marles announced Australia will deploy a RAAF Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to Poland, in addition to 100 defence force personnel, to help provide visibility for key humanitarian and military supply routes into Ukraine.
The aircraft will be deployed for three months, concluding in November, and follows an earlier six-month deployment which was highly valued by the Ukrainians.
Australia announced new financial sanctions and travel bans on 37 individuals and seven financial entities involved in Russia's defence, energy, transport, insurance, electronics and finance sectors, as well as "promulgators of Russian disinformation and propaganda".
Mr Marles also signed an agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation, increasing co-operation in non-combat activities including logistics and capability acquisition.
with Reuters
Australia is standing firm against US pressure to lift defence spending but looks "underdone" as European leaders endorse a five per cent commitment of their gross domestic product to security.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would decide its spending levels to meet its military needs.
The move risks a rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who has made clear he expects allies to drastically step up and increase their share of deterrence.
The nation moving to a floor of a three per cent spend on defence was a "prudent minimum", Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said.
He said the defence force had been "hollowed out", so the federal government could afford to invest in future capabilities which might be needed sooner than previously thought.
"Australia in broad terms now is looking rather underdone in terms of defence, having committed just over the 2 per cent GDP equivalent, which was the old NATO target, but that was for a different era," Dr Graham said.
"The narrative has been changed, both by US pressure and let's not forget also the primary factor, which is deteriorating security globally."
NATO members agreed to increase defence and security spending to five per cent of GDP.
But Spain objected to the pledge, prompting Mr Trump to threaten to punish the Iberian nation with a tougher trade deal.
Australia is also seeking to negotiate a reprieve from tariffs imposed by the US on imports, including a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium.
Mr Marles maintained Australia would stick with its own process, which involves the nation's defence spending increasing from two to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34.
"A very significant decision has been made here in relation to European defence spending and that is fundamentally a matter for NATO," he said.
"We'll continue to assess what our needs are going forward. As our prime minister has said, we will resource that."
Mr Marles did not meet with Mr Trump, or US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite intensive efforts by government officials to tee up a first face-to-face of an Australian minister with the US president.
Dr Graham said any embarrassment on Australia's part was mitigated by the limited representation of Asian partners at the summit.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor reiterated the coalition's call for spending to lift to three per cent of the economy.
He took aim at Labor's failure to secure a meeting with Mr Trump, pointing to a flagged sit down with Xi Jinping.
"It seems that the prime minister is better able to get a meeting with the president of China than the president of the United States," Mr Taylor said.
But the defence minister did meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov as Australia reaffirmed its support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
Mr Marles announced Australia will deploy a RAAF Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to Poland, in addition to 100 defence force personnel, to help provide visibility for key humanitarian and military supply routes into Ukraine.
The aircraft will be deployed for three months, concluding in November, and follows an earlier six-month deployment which was highly valued by the Ukrainians.
Australia announced new financial sanctions and travel bans on 37 individuals and seven financial entities involved in Russia's defence, energy, transport, insurance, electronics and finance sectors, as well as "promulgators of Russian disinformation and propaganda".
Mr Marles also signed an agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation, increasing co-operation in non-combat activities including logistics and capability acquisition.
with Reuters
Australia is standing firm against US pressure to lift defence spending but looks "underdone" as European leaders endorse a five per cent commitment of their gross domestic product to security.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would decide its spending levels to meet its military needs.
The move risks a rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who has made clear he expects allies to drastically step up and increase their share of deterrence.
The nation moving to a floor of a three per cent spend on defence was a "prudent minimum", Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said.
He said the defence force had been "hollowed out", so the federal government could afford to invest in future capabilities which might be needed sooner than previously thought.
"Australia in broad terms now is looking rather underdone in terms of defence, having committed just over the 2 per cent GDP equivalent, which was the old NATO target, but that was for a different era," Dr Graham said.
"The narrative has been changed, both by US pressure and let's not forget also the primary factor, which is deteriorating security globally."
NATO members agreed to increase defence and security spending to five per cent of GDP.
But Spain objected to the pledge, prompting Mr Trump to threaten to punish the Iberian nation with a tougher trade deal.
Australia is also seeking to negotiate a reprieve from tariffs imposed by the US on imports, including a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium.
Mr Marles maintained Australia would stick with its own process, which involves the nation's defence spending increasing from two to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34.
"A very significant decision has been made here in relation to European defence spending and that is fundamentally a matter for NATO," he said.
"We'll continue to assess what our needs are going forward. As our prime minister has said, we will resource that."
Mr Marles did not meet with Mr Trump, or US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite intensive efforts by government officials to tee up a first face-to-face of an Australian minister with the US president.
Dr Graham said any embarrassment on Australia's part was mitigated by the limited representation of Asian partners at the summit.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor reiterated the coalition's call for spending to lift to three per cent of the economy.
He took aim at Labor's failure to secure a meeting with Mr Trump, pointing to a flagged sit down with Xi Jinping.
"It seems that the prime minister is better able to get a meeting with the president of China than the president of the United States," Mr Taylor said.
But the defence minister did meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov as Australia reaffirmed its support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
Mr Marles announced Australia will deploy a RAAF Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to Poland, in addition to 100 defence force personnel, to help provide visibility for key humanitarian and military supply routes into Ukraine.
The aircraft will be deployed for three months, concluding in November, and follows an earlier six-month deployment which was highly valued by the Ukrainians.
Australia announced new financial sanctions and travel bans on 37 individuals and seven financial entities involved in Russia's defence, energy, transport, insurance, electronics and finance sectors, as well as "promulgators of Russian disinformation and propaganda".
Mr Marles also signed an agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation, increasing co-operation in non-combat activities including logistics and capability acquisition.
with Reuters
Australia is standing firm against US pressure to lift defence spending but looks "underdone" as European leaders endorse a five per cent commitment of their gross domestic product to security.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would decide its spending levels to meet its military needs.
The move risks a rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who has made clear he expects allies to drastically step up and increase their share of deterrence.
The nation moving to a floor of a three per cent spend on defence was a "prudent minimum", Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said.
He said the defence force had been "hollowed out", so the federal government could afford to invest in future capabilities which might be needed sooner than previously thought.
"Australia in broad terms now is looking rather underdone in terms of defence, having committed just over the 2 per cent GDP equivalent, which was the old NATO target, but that was for a different era," Dr Graham said.
"The narrative has been changed, both by US pressure and let's not forget also the primary factor, which is deteriorating security globally."
NATO members agreed to increase defence and security spending to five per cent of GDP.
But Spain objected to the pledge, prompting Mr Trump to threaten to punish the Iberian nation with a tougher trade deal.
Australia is also seeking to negotiate a reprieve from tariffs imposed by the US on imports, including a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium.
Mr Marles maintained Australia would stick with its own process, which involves the nation's defence spending increasing from two to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34.
"A very significant decision has been made here in relation to European defence spending and that is fundamentally a matter for NATO," he said.
"We'll continue to assess what our needs are going forward. As our prime minister has said, we will resource that."
Mr Marles did not meet with Mr Trump, or US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite intensive efforts by government officials to tee up a first face-to-face of an Australian minister with the US president.
Dr Graham said any embarrassment on Australia's part was mitigated by the limited representation of Asian partners at the summit.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor reiterated the coalition's call for spending to lift to three per cent of the economy.
He took aim at Labor's failure to secure a meeting with Mr Trump, pointing to a flagged sit down with Xi Jinping.
"It seems that the prime minister is better able to get a meeting with the president of China than the president of the United States," Mr Taylor said.
But the defence minister did meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov as Australia reaffirmed its support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
Mr Marles announced Australia will deploy a RAAF Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to Poland, in addition to 100 defence force personnel, to help provide visibility for key humanitarian and military supply routes into Ukraine.
The aircraft will be deployed for three months, concluding in November, and follows an earlier six-month deployment which was highly valued by the Ukrainians.
Australia announced new financial sanctions and travel bans on 37 individuals and seven financial entities involved in Russia's defence, energy, transport, insurance, electronics and finance sectors, as well as "promulgators of Russian disinformation and propaganda".
Mr Marles also signed an agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation, increasing co-operation in non-combat activities including logistics and capability acquisition.
with Reuters