Australia: Defense Minister Richard Marles has called for increased cooperation between Australia and the United States to prevent what he calls a "catastrophic failure of deterrence" in the Indo-Pacific.
In a speech given in Washington, D.C., Marles argued that China was busy building the largest military buildup since World War II, and that it was clearly seen as an attacker and not just for its own defense. Used to be
“It is huge. The strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific region and I believe the whole world beyond that is completely changing. The Center for Strategic and International Studies was informed by them (CSIS). He stressed that the US-Australia alliance could not afford to remain "stagnant" and that it would face more difficult strategic situations in the coming years. To prevent the catastrophic failure of deterrence, we need to contribute to a more effective balance of military power, he said.
The events in Europe highlight the danger we face when a country's military build-up is enough to convince its leader that the war does a good job of demoralizing not just the nations fighting it, but the world as a whole.
Although Marles did not mention Taiwan's name in his speech, he stressed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine cannot be allowed to succeed.
Only by ensuring that such a strategy fails in Europe, the Indo-Pacific or elsewhere can we prevent their future employment
Marles said the US views Australia as a regional leader and that Albany's government will contribute in its own way, including taking more charge of its own security.
"We will make the necessary investments to increase the range and lethality of the Australian Defense Force," he said, in order to be able to jeopardize potential enemy forces and infrastructure at a distance from Australia.
The first visit to the US after the election would prioritize the AUKUS deal.
As Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Marles is making his first visit to the United States. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to begin his journey, and this week he will meet US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Additionally Marles America will speak with Congressmen about the AUKUS agreement between the UK and Australia that would allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
In Washington he said he was primarily concerned with figuring out how to bridge the growing capability gap before the AUKUS submarines enter service.
After the speech, he said, "As we go through the process of examining which solution we follow, we want to determine not only that solution but also to work out whether there is a way that can be achieved by the 2040s." to be completed online.
By early next year the federal government intends to reveal the type of submarines that Australia wants to buy under the AUKUS deal so that it does not pose a threat to a country like China in the Indo-Pacific region and can defend its country