UK PM pledges massive defence spending boost
Keir Starmer will boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of the economy by 2027, as uncertainty reigns over Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.
Defence
Allies guarded on Beijing’s Pacific games
The arrival of American Coast Guard officers aboard one of their most formidable vessels was a display of security amid fears of rogue Chinese military activity.
Would-be recruits sound the retreat
Almost 90 per cent of applications to serve with the Australian Defence Force were withdrawn last year and the average processing time has blown out to more than eight months.
Virgin pilot relayed warning on Chinese live fire drill
Australian officials only learned of a live weapons drill by Chinese warships after a Virgin Airlines pilot passed on a radio warning he’d received 30 minutes after the exercise began.
ADF recruiter takes aim … and misses
A recruiter hired to fix a staffing crisis within the Australian Defence Force is almost 30 per cent behind target.
Beijing makes point with its ‘most potent’ warship
Beijing chose one of its most powerful warships for its show of force off Australia’s east coast, sending a stark message over China’s military might and its formidable industrial capabilities.
‘Hyped it up’: Beijing fires back over naval exercises
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian on Sunday said the PLA had sent repeated safety notices before the drills and that his country was ‘strongly dissatisfied’ with Australia’s response.
Nation must defend itself in new world order
Australia needs to be able to defend itself in a world marked by both political and technological disruption, says one of the country’s leading defence industry figures.
‘Disconcerting’: Australia confronts China over live weapons exercise
The Albanese government has lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over a live weapons drill between Australia and New Zealand, as the Defence Minister reveals China is yet to give a ‘satisfactory’ explanation.
‘PM’s jelly-back spinelessness’: China’s loud and clear message
Xi wants submission from Australia, not stability. Why make it easy for the Chinese navy? Let’s raise the cost to Beijing, not give it a free ride to demean us.
Sabre-rattling strengthens PNG ties
Australia’s biggest military exercise Talisman Sabre will be hosted in cooperation with Papua New Guinea this year amid moves to bind the nations’ military forces more closely than ever.
Labor at sea on Chinese warships: Hastie
The Coalition has accused the Albanese government of keeping Australians in the dark on Chinese ‘gunboat diplomacy’.
Chinese warships in show of force off coast of Sydney
A Chinese naval task group was sailing just 150 nautical miles off Sydney on Wednesday in an unprecedented projection of power.
Lights are flashing red across the board for Burgess
As if the world wasn’t bleak enough already. According to the nation’s intelligence chief, it is only going to get worse. There is no longer a single threat that stands out on the priority list.
Beijing ‘a threat to maritime safety’
One of Australia’s top naval officers has called out Beijing’s aggressive conduct in the South China Sea and the severing of undersea cables by Chinese vessels.
Japan intensifies frigate sales pitch with port visits
Japan is ramping up its bid to sell $10bn worth of new warships to Australia, dispatching one of its Mogami-class frigates for port visits to Darwin and Fremantle in coming weeks.
China blames Australia for fighter jet’s flare drop
China accused the RAAF P-8A Poseidon of ‘deliberately intruding into China’s airspace’ while Australia lodged an official protest over the incident that risked the lives of up to a dozen Australians.
Red alert for AUKUS submarine reactors
A Rolls-Royce program set to supply reactor cores for Australia’s nuclear submarines has been branded as ‘unachievable’ in a blow to the nation’s AUKUS ambitions.
Forced removal of Gazans ‘against international law’: minister
It is one of the clearest red lines drawn by the government since US President Donald Trump announced his Gaza Strip “take over” plan.
Cook Islands’ Beijing pact triggers strategic waves across Pacific
The small but strategically important Cook Islands has blindsided its neighbours with the news its Prime Minister is heading to Beijing to sign a murky ‘strategic partnership’ with China.
Former commando wants apology from ABC over edits
Former special forces veteran Heston Russell wants an unconditional apology from the ABC acknowledging that he did not shoot at unarmed civilians from a helicopter in Afghanistan.
‘Unique’ AUKUS deal earns Trump approval
President Donald Trump has flagged his support for the complex defence arrangement with Australia after the Albanese government delivered a $798m payment.
Marles pays US an AUKUS advance
Australia has made its first AUKUS down payment to the US as the Albanese government looks to lock-in Trump administration support for the submarine program.
Report on ABC’s ‘doctored audio’ scandal blames lawyers
A report has blamed ABC lawyers for failing to pass on complaints by former commando Heston Russell that extra gunshots had been edited into an ABC news report.
Key industries warned off DeepSeek
Home Affairs has urged critical infrastructure operators to keep Chinese AI app DeepSeek off their systems but stopped short of an enforced ban like that imposed on government users
ADF recruit process faces cultural fight
Peter Dean has lashed the government for being ‘exceptionally slow’ on addressing the defence force’s workforce crisis, warning young recruits are struggling with the lack of connection to the outside world.
‘Who will fight for nation?’: ex-army chief’s alarm
Peter Leahy has warned a decline in national pride is at the heart of the Australian Defence Force’s personnel crisis.
Marles ‘excited’ over defence ties with US
Richard Marles says he is ‘excited’ to work with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after a phone call with his newly confirmed counterpart on Wednesday.
‘Give us proof PoW is alive’: Ukraine
Ukraine has demanded Moscow produce video evidence that Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is alive after Russia’s ambassador told the Albanese government he was in custody, not dead as previously feared.
Campbell’s latest post another hit for Diggers
Once again a Canberra ‘mate’ is getting a top job, but in my view and many others, he simply doesn’t deserve it.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/page/3