Australia will not raise its defence spending targets despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, choosing instead to follow its own military strategy, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters that the country would maintain its current defence budget path, focusing on national priorities rather than international pressure.
Marles' comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push allies to spend more on defence, threatening those who resist with tougher trade policies. Trump recently criticized Spain for refusing to adopt NATO’s proposed 5% of GDP defence spending target and suggested punitive trade measures may follow.
Australia, which is not a NATO member, currently spends around 2% of GDP on defence and plans to increase this to 2.3% by 2033–2034. Marles emphasized that this decision reflects Australia’s own strategic assessments, not external demands.
“We have gone through our own process of assessing our strategic landscape... and what that has seen is the biggest peacetime increase in Australian defence spending,” he said.
Despite efforts by Canberra to secure a first face-to-face meeting between a senior Australian official and President Trump, Marles did not speak directly with the U.S. president or Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during the summit.
Australia is also in talks to gain exemptions from new U.S. tariffs, including a 50% levy on steel and aluminium, but officials have not indicated whether a breakthrough is likely.
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North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media on Thursday.
Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire BP in a historic £60 billion deal, despite ongoing market speculation about a potential merger between the two oil giants.
Meta has snapped up three star researchers from OpenAI's Zurich lab, escalating the fierce battle for top Artificial Intelligence talent as tech giants race to dominate the next era of artificial intelligence.
Universal’s new theme park in Bedford, UK has secured a government support package worth around £500 million ($686 million) for rail and road upgrades, as part of a wider package to boost infrastructure ahead of the park’s planned 2031 opening.
North Korea may send more troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine as early as July or August, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency, which also says Pyongyang is continuing arms shipments to Moscow.
The planet is still on track to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, yet most families are having fewer children than they want. Longer lives, lower fertility and uneven migration now demand a rethink of how societies support parents and care for an ageing population.
North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media on Thursday.
Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire BP in a historic £60 billion deal, despite ongoing market speculation about a potential merger between the two oil giants.
Meta has snapped up three star researchers from OpenAI's Zurich lab, escalating the fierce battle for top Artificial Intelligence talent as tech giants race to dominate the next era of artificial intelligence.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire BP in a historic £60 billion deal, despite ongoing market speculation about a potential merger between the two oil giants.
Universal’s new theme park in Bedford, UK has secured a government support package worth around £500 million ($686 million) for rail and road upgrades, as part of a wider package to boost infrastructure ahead of the park’s planned 2031 opening.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies regained value following a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, bouncing back after steep losses during the 12-day conflict.
Tesla’s new car sales in Europe plunged 27.9% in May, even as the region saw a major rise in demand for electric vehicles, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed.
Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry, national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG), and CNOOC Hong Kong Holding Limited—a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC Limited)—have signed a contract for hydrocarbon exploration and production under the Zhylyoi project.
North Korea may send more troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine as early as July or August, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency, which also says Pyongyang is continuing arms shipments to Moscow.
The planet is still on track to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, yet most families are having fewer children than they want. Longer lives, lower fertility and uneven migration now demand a rethink of how societies support parents and care for an ageing population.
North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media on Thursday.
Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire BP in a historic £60 billion deal, despite ongoing market speculation about a potential merger between the two oil giants.
Meta has snapped up three star researchers from OpenAI's Zurich lab, escalating the fierce battle for top Artificial Intelligence talent as tech giants race to dominate the next era of artificial intelligence.
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