Australia has released its landmark Defense Strategic Review, an assessment of its military posture. More profound than any review in the last few decades, it found that Australia’s military is unprepared for the challenges it faces as an era of instability approaches international politics. Mint breaks details.
- The government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched a defense strategic review when he came into office last year. Chaired by former Defense Minister Stephen Smith and Chief of the Defense Forces Angus Houston, the review aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of Australia’s military preparedness, given the growing instability in its neighbourhood.
- The review states that the world is fundamentally more competitive and dangerous than before. While acknowledging that Australia is less likely to be invaded, it notes that a country the size of the continent is still vulnerable to cyberattacks and economic coercion, not to mention long-range attacks.
- In particular, defense planners believe that Australia now lives in a “missile age”. They say these weapons make it difficult for countries to continue relying on geography to protect themselves.
- Of course, the rise of China is a major concern. “China’s military build-up is now the largest and most ambitious of any country since the end of World War II. This has been accompanied by significant economic growth, which has benefited many countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia. This build-up is happening without transparency or reassurance of China’s strategic intent in the Indo-Pacific region,” reads the review.
- It argues that the country’s traditional defense doctrine, known as ‘Defending Australia’, is no longer fit for purpose. The doctrine focused on protecting the mainland from the threat of low-level conflict with small to medium-sized regional powers. The review proposes a new ‘national defence’ doctrine that would focus on the threat posed by conflict between the United States and China.
- The review called for Australia to spend more on acquiring sea- and land-based precision-strike capabilities as this would give it the ability to project force more easily. These capabilities will be augmented by the inclusion of nuclear-powered submarines to be acquired by the country as a result of the AUKUS nuclear submarine treaty.
- The review also identifies climate change as a major challenge. However, it proposed that the Australian Defense Forces (ADF) be relieved of their disaster-relief responsibilities. Experts have argued that responding to frequent natural disasters distracts the armed forces from their primary focus.
- The review also includes India, which calls on Australia to strengthen its “state” and diplomatic ties. “Australia also needs to continue to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with major powers, including Japan and India, and invest in regional architecture,” the review said.
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