CANBERRA (dpa-AFX) - Australia wants to significantly increase its defense spending in the coming years. Over the next ten years, an additional 50 billion Australian dollars (about 30 billion euros) will be invested in defense, as Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles announced on Wednesday.

More than one billion dollars (more than 600 million euros) are to flow immediately into the development of long-range missiles, among other things. There are also plans to upgrade the Australian naval fleet, the armed forces on land and in the air. Defense in space and cyberspace is also to be strengthened. "At a time of complex challenges and increasing uncertainty, a stronger, integrated, focused and capable defense force is of great importance," said Marles.

In 2021, the USA, the UK and Australia announced a new "security alliance" called Aukus. The US government under President Joe Biden announced that it would allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines to strengthen security and military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. According to security experts, the alliance was clearly aimed at countering the military threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific./crh/DP/mis