The prime minister will be hoping a big defence boost is enough to win over Donald Trump with the first meeting between the two leaders on the cards.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could meet face-to-face with US President Donald Trump at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to seek reassurances about the future of the AUKUS defence agreement.
Nuclear-powered submarines Australia gains under the deal would dock at the Henderson Defence Precinct outside Perth, which has received a $12 billion cash injection.
The US could also choose to have its submarines undergo maintenance at the facility.
The agreement is under review in the US and the Trump administration has urged allies to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
Australia’s spend currently sits at about two per cent.
Former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos noted the significance of announcing the boost ahead of a possible meeting with Trump.
“The timing would be, I think, pitched to lay the groundwork and have something to put on the table with the president,” he told AAP.
In return, Mr Albanese would be seeking assurances from the president about his support for AUKUS, Mr Sinodinos said.
“While we had indications of support from others in the administration, it’s important for the prime minister to hear it directly from the president,” he said.
It also makes Australia a much more valuable ally, according to Australia Strategic Policy Institute Defence Strategy Director Mike Hughes.
“It’s making up for almost a complete lack of investment in Australia’s ability to build, maintain, sustain and repair vessels, particularly naval military vessels,” he said.
“With the international geopolitical environment deteriorating in the way it is, Australia needs to invest in these sovereign capabilities given we’ve spent decades essentially free riding off of others.”
Defence Minister Richard Marles described the $12 billion funding as the “biggest peacetime increase in Australia’s defence spending” in history, with total expenditure of $25 billion.
Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said it was overdue and didn’t go far enough to support the rotation of US and UK submarines until late into the 2030s
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