Did Donald Trump influence Australia’s increase in defence spending?
Defence Minister Richard Marles has shared plans to increase defence spending to at least 3 per cent of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2033.
In a National Press Club address on Thursday, Marles said the increase in military spending in next month’s budget will be “the biggest peace-time increase in defence spending in our nation’s history”.
US President Donald Trump had previously asked all NATO countries to increase their defence spending to at least 3.5 per cent of GDP.
Marles did say the upcoming increase to 2.8 per cent would be “more than most NATO countries”, but denied there was any connection between his comparison and Trump’s previous comments.
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