Military ship of the Australian Navy (Getty)
Australia on Tuesday revealed the outlines of a 10-year plan aimed at doubling its fleet of major warships and increasing defense spending by an additional $7 billion, in the face of the accelerating arms race in Asia and the Pacific.
Under the plan, Australia would have a naval force of 26 surface combat ships, up from 11 currently, which Defense Minister Richard Marles described as "the largest fleet we will have since the end of World War II."
“The Royal Australian Navy must be able to ensure the safety and security of our shipping routes (…) because they are essential to our way of life and prosperity,” the minister added.
Australia will build 6 Hunter-class frigates, 11 multi-role frigates, and 6 modern warships that do not require a crew. A number of ships will be equipped with Tomahawk missiles capable of carrying out long-range strikes deep inside enemy territory, which is an important tool for deterrence.
In order to implement this plan, Australia will increase its defense spending to 2.4% of GDP, which is more than the 2% target set by its NATO allies.
According to Agence France-Presse, this announcement comes after a huge increase in the firepower of China and Russia, and amid an increasing confrontation between Washington’s allies and authoritarian governments, as the agency put it.
Australia has formed the OCOs military alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom, and it seeks in particular to confront China's influence in the South Pacific.
Source: French