Australia Defense Chief Seeks Security Revamp to Ward Off Risk
(Bloomberg) -- Australia must strengthen its military capability in the face of an increasingly complex security environment across the Indo-Pacific, according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.Most Read from BloombergIsrael Latest: Israeli Death Toll in Hamas Attack Reaches 1,200Hamas Got Around Israel’s Surveillance Prowess by Going DarkIsrael Latest: Top US General Warns Iran to Stay Out of ConflictAfghanistan’s Viral Supercar Makes Global Debut at Doha ShowChina Mulls New Stimulus, Higher Deficit to Meet Growth Goal“We need to be able to project in a way which would mean that any adversary who was seeking to act against our interest has pause for thought,” Marles, who is also the country’s defense minister, said at an Asia Society event in Melbourne on Wednesday.ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementAustralia’s national security interests weren’t limited to its borders, said Marles, adding that potential adversaries could do harm to the country “without ever having to put foot on our sho
(Bloomberg) -- Australia must strengthen its military capability in the face of an increasingly complex security environment across the Indo-Pacific, according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Israel Latest: Israeli Death Toll in Hamas Attack Reaches 1,200
Hamas Got Around Israel’s Surveillance Prowess by Going Dark
Israel Latest: Top US General Warns Iran to Stay Out of Conflict
Afghanistan’s Viral Supercar Makes Global Debut at Doha Show
China Mulls New Stimulus, Higher Deficit to Meet Growth Goal
“We need to be able to project in a way which would mean that any adversary who was seeking to act against our interest has pause for thought,” Marles, who is also the country’s defense minister, said at an Asia Society event in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Australia’s national security interests weren’t limited to its borders, said Marles, adding that potential adversaries could do harm to the country “without ever having to put foot on our shores.”
His comments follow a series of major reviews by the Australian government into its military capability. The Defence Strategic Review released in April called for major changes to Australia’s military amid China’s build up.
A recent review of Australia’s surface fleet has yet to be released by the government, although some local media reports have suggested a significant reshaping in navy procurement. When asked on Wednesday about that, Marles said the report would be released in early 2024.
Australia’s center-left Labor government has cut back on its land-based army vehicles and increased spending on long-range missiles and domestic military manufacturing. Marles on Wednesday lamented that the country’s weakness in high-tech manufacturing prevents Australia from achieving self-sufficiency in defense production.
“We have to have an economy which is more than mining and agriculture, as important as those are,” Marles said, saying that Australia’s lack of economic complexity was a “real alarm bell.”
The minister said Australia’s diplomatic and strategic choices going forward were not immediately obvious, adding the region was facing the most complex strategic circumstances “since the end of World War II.”
On Australia’s alliance with the US, Marles said Canberra would work with whoever was in the White House following the 2024 election, although he added that former President Donald Trump’s administration had been characterized by “unpredictability.”
Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek
The War in Israel Shows How Social Media’s Idealistic Era Has Ended
Worst US Bond Selloff Since 1787 Marks End of Free-Money Era
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.
What's Your Reaction?
