Canberra Has Not Got Washington’s Message on Defence Spending: Abbott

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is concerned that Australia has not got the message from Washington on defence spending, after European allies agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand.

European NATO leaders promised to boost defence spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over 10 years. Australia has yet to make a similar pledge.

“We’ve recently seen Donald Trump at NATO demanding and getting an increase in NATO defence spending to 3.5 percent for the immediate military needs of the nation and to 5 percent when you throw in other security issues,” Abbott told the Institute of Public Affairs.

Abbott said NATO allies have got the message from Washington.

“You can’t ask America to do more for your defence than you are prepared to do for your defence,” he said.

The former prime minister added, “The one place that doesn’t seem to have got the message is Canberra.”

He noted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia was already doing “more than enough by increasing defence spending from 2 to 2.3 percent” in the latest federal budget.

“The investment in defence includes $159 billion in maritime capability over the decade which will support over 8,500 jobs by 2030,” the budget states (pdf).

However, Abbott believes this is not good enough for Washington.

While a formal rupture of the U.S.-Australia alliance would not occur, he expressed concern that it was at risk of becoming “almost a dead letter.”

Speculating on the future of the AUKUS deal to deliver submarines for Australia, Abbott highlighted Australia would need to show loyalty to America.

“I certainly think that an administration that is hard pressed to provide for its own submarine needs is going to be pretty reluctant to offer Australia three Virginia-class nuclear submarines in seven years time if it does not think Australia is 100 percent on America’s side,” Abbott said.

Australia Pulling Its Weight: PM

However, Albanese says Australia is meeting its defence spending obligations.

“What’s important is outcomes, and we’ve delivered $57 billion of increased defence expenditure over the medium term. $10 billion over the short term, over the forward estimates, including $1 billion we brought forward in our Budget in March,” Albanese told Sky News Australia in July.

“Australia doesn’t just be passive here—Australia always pulls our weight. And as I, as the Australian prime minister, I’ll talk up our contribution, because we are significant allies, we’re significant players in delivering peace and security in our region.”

Meanwhile, acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy highlighted Australia’s contribution to security in the Asia-Pacific region. He also indicated the government may be willing to spend more if necessary.

“We’re investing in our relationships in the region, as well as our military capability and we are increasing our defence budget significantly, $57 billion above the previous trajectory,”  he told ABC Insiders on July 13.

“We’ve made it clear that if a case is made for more capability, we’ll increase more. We’re not going to pluck a figure out of the air and work out how to spend it. That’s what the Coalition took to the election.”

Calls from the US To Increase Defence Spending

After NATO allies promised to increase defence spending, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called on Asia-Pacific friends to do the same.

“I mean look, if our allies in Europe, and our NATO allies can do it, then I think our allies and our friends in the Asia Pacific region can do it as well,” she said. 

U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth has asked Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.

“On defence spending, Secretary Hegseth conveyed that Australia should increase its defence spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP as soon as possible,” a readout from a meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said.