US urges Australia to increase defense spending

The US has urged Australia to boost its defense spending as Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed that nuclear submarine development is progressing well.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Marles to discuss ongoing cooperation. Hegseth described the US-Australia relationship as “long-standing” and vital.

Australia, part of the Quad alliance with the US, Japan, and India, aims to strengthen its military in response to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Marles told Australian media that while no specific spending figure was discussed, Hegseth encouraged higher defense investment. The 2021 AUKUS pact, involving the US, UK, and Australia, is advancing as planned, focusing on building nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.

Key milestones include setting up the Submarine Rotation Force – West at HMAS Stirling near Perth, which will host rotating US Virginia-class submarines within the coming years.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently announced an extra $10 billion in defense funding after a report warned that Australia’s military risked becoming underfunded.

Hegseth also met defense leaders from Southeast Asia, raising concerns about China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and calling on regional countries to share responsibility for security.

In discussions with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, the US defense chief stressed the importance of transparency and partnership in deterring China’s influence.

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