US EditionU.S Demands Australia Increase Defense Spending to 3.5% of GDP
- On June 1, 2025, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Australia to boost its military budget to reach 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product at the earliest opportunity.
- This request follows Australia's current defense budget of about 2% of GDP and a planned rise to 2.4% by 2033-34, seen as insufficient against rising threats.
- Hegseth and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles met in Singapore to discuss accelerating defense cooperation and aligning investments with the Indo-Pacific security environment.
- Australia's 2025-26 military budget will be nearly $59 billion, and reaching 3.5% of GDP would require over $40 billion more annually, pushing the budget above $100 billion.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected increasing spending solely due to US pressure, emphasizing Australia will decide defense policy based on its national interest.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Australia should surge defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, Pentagon says
SINGAPORE — The United States is urging Australia to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, almost a third above the target Canberra has set even for the early 2030s, the Pentagon said Sunday.“On defense spending, [Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth conveyed that Australia should increase its defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP as soon as possible,” the statement read, referring to a meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense…
US Defence Secretary Urges Australia to Raise Defence Spending to 3.5 Percent of GDP
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Australia to substantially boost its defence spending to align more closely with the United States’ strategic objectives in the Pacific region. During a meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30, Hegseth said the investment would help “maintain peace through strength” in the Indo-Pacific. “On defence spending, Secretary Hegseth conve…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources lean Right
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
