Latest news with #OnnoEichelsheim
Sky News AU
21-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Top European general warns Albanese government over defence spending in face of China threat
A top military general in Europe has warned the Albanese government it needs to raise its defence capability in the face of ever-growing threats in the Pacific. Dutch General Onno Eichelsheim, visiting Australia for the annual Talisman Sabre war games hosted by the Australian Defence Force, said Australia needs to 'seriously' prepare for war. The Netherlands was among the swathe of NATO nations that recently lifted their military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. The Dutch defence chief said the Netherlands had responded to Russia's increased aggression in Europe and that countries in the Indo-Pacific must be wary of China as well. 'You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more influence, than take that seriously,' he said. 'And if you see in this case in this region - China building up - take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. 'But if you prepare for war, you can avoid war and that's how we look at it.' General Eichelsheim said it was 'not about the percentage' but about the 'capabilities', a notion the Albanese government has openly expressed. However, the Dutch general insisted Australia needed to lift its capabilities and spending to ensure it could defend itself from a threat. Australia's defence budget has been forecast to reach only 2.33 per cent of GDP by 2033, which has frustrated the Trump administration. The Trump administration has been publicly frustrated by the Albanese government's resistance to increasing defence spending to 3.5 per cent requested by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Take it seriously': Huge China warning
Australia has been warned to take China's military build-up 'seriously', saying the threat of Beijing to the Indo-Pacific region is like the danger Russia poses to Europe. The Prime Minister spent much of last week touting Australia's trade, tourism and research offerings in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. Securing peace through economic interdependence was a strategy the EU used with Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union – a ploy that ultimately came back to bite the bloc when Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. General Onno Eichelsheim is in Australia for Talisman Sabre – annual war games hosted by the Australian Defence Force, and said the country should 'get ready for something that you hope will never happen'. Speaking to the ABC, General Eichelsheim said Australia should not ignore the parallels between China and Russia. Dutch defence chief Onno Eichelsheim is urging Australia to boost its military spending. Dutch Ministry of Defence / Handout Credit: Supplied 'You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more, more influence, than take that seriously,' he said. 'And if you see in this case in this region, China building up, take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. 'If you prepare for war, you can avoid war. And that's how we look at it.' During a press conference in China, NewsWire put to Mr Albanese that there were similarities between his approach to managing the relationship with Beijing and Europe's pre-Ukraine war approach to managing its relationship with Moscow. He denied there was. 'Our relationship is very different,' Mr Albanese said. 'And I don't think you can translate one thing across some other part of the world of which Australia is not a participant.' The Trump administration has called on the Albanese government to hike defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, warning of an 'imminent' threat to the Indo-Pacific. The concern is driven by China's constant war drills around Taiwan and rapid military build-up, including a massive expansion of its atomic arsenal. NewsWire asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese if he was concerned China posed a similar threat to China as Russia did to the EU. Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire As of mid-2024, China's operational nuclear warheads exceeded 600, according to the US Department of Defense. That was nearly triple what the country was estimated to have in 2020. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has said build up was sparking 'security anxiety' in Australia. But Mr Albanese and his government have been firm to resist calls, both domestic and international, to boost the Australian Defence Force's budget. General Eichelsheim, whose country recently agreed to hike defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP in line with most of NATO, said a GDP percentage was not the only important measure, but that Australia would need to do more one way or another. 'It's not about the percentage, it's about the capabilities,' he said. 'But inevitably, I think Australia has to increase its capabilities as well, if you look at the region, and the build-up in this case of China. 'Also, if they need to help out Europe, which (Australia is) actually already doing – if you look at the war in Ukraine, and supporting us there.'
ABC News
20-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Dutch defence chief warns Australia to increase military capability
The Netherlands' chief of defence has warned Australian leaders the country needs to counter China's military rise by increasing its own defence capability. General Onno Eichelsheim, visiting Australia for the Talisman Sabre defence exercises, warned the threat posed by China to the Indo-Pacific is not unlike that Russia poses to Europe. And he says "naivety" should not allow Australia and other countries to avoid preparing for the risk of conflict in future. "You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more, more influence, than take that seriously," he said. "And if you see in this case in this region, China building up, take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. "If you prepare for war, you can avoid war. And that's how we look at it." The Netherlands recently agreed to lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its GDP, alongside most other NATO countries. The decision came in part due to pressure from the United States for NATO countries to provide more for their own security. Australia has faced its own pressure from the United States to lift defence spending to the same level. General Eichelsheim said 3.5 per cent of GDP would provide the Netherlands with the capability the country needs, given the security situation in Europe. He said while the focus on GDP percentages was not important, there was no doubt Australia would need to do more. "It's not about the percentage, it's about the capabilities," he said. "But inevitably, I think Australia has to increase its capabilities as well, if you look at the region, and the build-up in this case of China. "Also, if they need to help out Europe, which [Australia is] actually already doing — if you look at the war in Ukraine, and supporting us there." In April General Eichelsheim issued an order to the country's 76,000 defence personnel, both uniformed and civilian. The top-ranking Dutch military official warned they needed to increase their readiness and be ready for rapid deployment. He said the message was sent for two reasons: that a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine might need to be protected, and that it might lead Russia to shift its attention elsewhere. "We know that [Russia has] the ability, if there is a ceasefire, they can move within one or two years to other locations where they can threaten, for instance, the Baltic States," he said. "So we need to be ready to defend that line as well. And that is not that much time, to be honest." The Netherlands is one of 19 countries taking part in the Talisman Sabre defence exercises, which are jointly organised by Australia and the United States. The Dutch defence personnel taking part are also joined by other European militaries like France, Germany and Norway. Asked why the Netherlands is taking an interest in the region, and how he views the security situation in the Indo-Pacific, General Eichelsheim said he has real concerns. "We worry about the amount of capabilities that China is building up," he said. "Those are not capabilities that you only use for protecting yourself. There are also quite a lot of offensive capabilities in it. "Leaving it only to the US versus China is also not a good idea — so we've increased our partnerships a lot with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and also the Philippines." The Albanese government has pushed back on the United States' calls for significant increases in defence spending, arguing spending is already rising quickly. The prime minister has argued Australia will set its own defence policy, and made the case that specific capabilities should be funded, rather than funding targets set and pursued. Asked about whether pressure might come from other allies rapidly increasing defence spending as a share of GDP, Defence Minister Richard Marles said those countries can see what Australia is doing. "We understand there is a process of international benchmarking, but ultimately every country, when it goes through its own processes about what kind of defence force it needs to build, does so based on assessing its own strategic need," he said. "And that's exactly what we're doing and I think countries can see that we are engaging in that process, it's an ongoing process and a process which up until this point has yielded the biggest peacetime increase in Australia's defence spending."
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CDS Gen Anil Chauhan holds bilateral talks with Netherland counterpart on defence cooperation
General Anil Chauhan met with defence leaders from the Netherlands, the US, and Brazil in Singapore. Discussions focused on boosting military cooperation through exercises and exchange programs. Operation Sindoor was a key topic, highlighting India's role in regional peace. India and Brazil also strengthened ties, emphasizing maritime freedom and security. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan held bilateral discussions with General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Defence of the Netherlands, to strengthen defence cooperation between the two to the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), the discussions focused on exploring avenues to enhance military engagement through exchange programs and bilateral training exercises "Deliberations were held on avenues to enhance #DefenceCooperation between both nations through military exchange programs and bilateral training events. Discussions also focused on #OperationSindoor, underscoring India's growing strategic partnerships to ensure peace and stability in the region," HQ IDS said in a CDS General Anil Chauhan also interacted with Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Commander of US INDOPACOM , USA, reinforcing defence discussions centred on Operation Sindoor , strengthening military-to-military cooperation and opportunities to foster collaboration in the Indo-Pacific , in the backdrop of the dynamic regional security leaders reaffirmed their commitment to address emerging security challenges and deepen strategic ties. Meanwhile, India and Brazil strengthened their bilateral ties at the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2025, reaffirming their commitment to a free, open and inclusive nations emphasised cooperation on regional security, maritime freedom and sustainable Anil Chauhan and Admiral Aguiar Freire, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Brazil, discussed shared values and interests, underscoring the importance of a rules-based international order and a growing convergence of views between India and Brazil on regional and global the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, CDS Chauhan noted that both countries gained independence at the same time, and Pakistan was ahead of India in various metrics, including social, economic, and GDP per capita, but today, New Delhi is ahead of them."Now, on the India-Pakistan relationship, we are not operating without a strategy. When we gained independence, Pakistan was ahead of us on every metric: social, economic, and GDP per capita. Today, India is ahead on all fronts: economic performance, human development, and social harmony, despite our greater diversity. That didn't happen by accident; it's a result of long-term strategy," he said."Diplomatically, we've reached out like in 2014 when the PM invited Nawaz Sharif. But it takes two hands to clap. If all we get in return is hostility, then disengagement may itself be a sound strategy for now," CDS Chauhan added.
