New Delhi: The Anthony Albanese government on Monday released the country’s Defence Strategic Review, which focuses on developing the country’s defence capabilities and self-sufficiency, and on stronger ties with India and Japan.
The Defence Strategic Eeview, authored by former defence chief Angus Houston and former defence minister Stephen Smith, was released by Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
It says that Canberra needs to invest in the Indo-Pacific region and Australia’s focus must be to deepen its engagement and collaboration with partners across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The Defence Cooperation Program should continue to grow, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, it says.
“Australia also needs to continue to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with key powers, including Japan and India, and invest in regional architecture,” it adds.
“Australia is a significant Indian Ocean state with the longest Indian Ocean coastline and the region’s largest search and rescue area. Australia must continue to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with key powers, including Japan and India,” it states.
On China, with which it shares a frosty relationship, the Defence Review takes a diplomatic tone.
“A stable relationship between Australia and China is in the interests of both countries and the broader region. Australia will continue to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must, manage our differences wisely, and, above all else, engage in and vigorously pursue our own national interest.”
On China’s military build-up, it says it is the largest and most ambitious of any country since the end of World War II.
“This has occurred alongside significant economic development, benefiting many countries in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia.
“This build-up is occurring without transparency or reassurance to the Indo-Pacific region of China’s strategic intent. China’s assertion of sovereignty over the South China Sea threatens the global rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific in a way that adversely impacts Australia’s national interests. China is also engaged in strategic competition in Australia’s near neighbourhood,” it adds.
On the AUKUS defence partnership with the US and UK for the purchase of nuclear-armed submarines, the document states that the Australian government’s immediate actions to prioritise its Defence capabilities in line with the Defence Review’s recommendations include “investing in conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership.”
“The acquisition of a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability in the shortest possible timeframe should be prioritised as part of AUKUS Pillar I,” it states.
It states that “engagement with the United Kingdom in the Indo-Pacific must be enhanced, including through AUKUS”.
The US, UK and Australia suddenly revealed to the world about the AUKUS partnership in September 2021, which also led to Canberra dumping its multi-billion dollar deal with France for conventional submarines, greatly angering Paris.
