Australia to Increase Defense Spending by $37.9B Over Next Decade

Australia will increase its defense spending by $37.9 billion U.S. dollars over the next decade, according to its 2026 National Defense Strategy and accompanying Integrated Investment Program documents, which were unveiled last week. According to the documents released April 16, Australia plans to spend $425 billion and $560 billion Australian dollars – or between $303 billion and $399 billion U.S. dollars – on capabilities and equipment to further the AUKUS agreement, long-range weapons, underwater capabilities, surface ships and drones. The 2026 NDS, the first publication since 2024, reads that the international system is under greater strain than at any time