Reference Message Network reported on June 2nd according to a report on the website of Britain's The Guardian on June 1st, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the US call for a significant increase in defense spending, stating that Australia would "decide its own defense policy".
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on regional allies including Australia to "share the burden" and increase defense spending to 5% of GDP on May 31st.
Albanese said on June 1st: "We will decide our own defense policy, and we have decided to invest an additional 10 billion AUD (about 6.5 billion USD) in defense over the next four years. What we are doing is continuing to invest in our defense capabilities and our relations in the region."
Australia plans to increase defense spending from about 2% of GDP at present to 2.4% by 2033-34 as planned.
Deputy US Defense Secretary Elbridge Colby previously said at a US Senate hearing that the US hoped Australia would reach the 3% defense spending threshold. (Translated by Yang Xinpeng)
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511300089923617320/
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