Marles, Wong to visit US after Trump’s defence spending call
Anthony Albanese’s top ministers are heading to the US for annual talks with their counterparts, just days after the Trump administration vowed to continue pushing Australia to increase defense spending.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong will fly to Washington on Monday to meet US secretaries Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio for the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).
Mr Marles, who also serves as defense minister, will later hold a tripartite meeting with Mr Hegseth and British Defense Minister John Healey to discuss AUKUS, the $368 billion defense deal that promises to arm Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.
Ministers strengthened Australia-US relations on Sunday, with Mr Marles saying the “alliance with the US is fundamental to our national security, built on our shared commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific”.
“AUSMIN is an invaluable forum for setting the strategic direction of the Alliance, including defense and security,” he said.
“I look forward to advancing our strong defense partnership, including AUKUS and our long-standing U.S. Force Posture Initiatives in Australia.”
Senator Wong similarly praised Australia’s relationship with its “major ally and strategic partner”.
“For four decades, AUSMIN has facilitated foreign and defense consultations during periods of major strategic change and challenges,” he said.
“Together we work to make the Indo-Pacific better.
“AUSMIN 2025 is an opportunity to advance the priorities needed for Australia, the United States and our region.”
However, the talks will not continue without complicated problems.
The White House released the US National Security Strategy this week.
The sweeping 29-page document outlines how the Trump administration plans to protect its interests in the face of increasing global threats, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to China’s economic pressure in the Indo-Pacific.
The strategy highlights China as the United States’ main military and economic rival and argues that “American economic and technological superiority is the surest way to deter and prevent a large-scale military conflict in the Indo-Pacific.”
He points to Taiwan as a likely flashpoint because of its role in containing the Chinese navy as part of the First Island Chain and its viability in keeping key shipping lanes free.
“Given that one-third of global shipping passes through the South China Sea each year, this has major implications for the US economy,” the strategy says.
“Therefore, deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by maintaining military superiority, is a priority.”
He promises to “build a military capable of repelling attack anywhere in the First Island Chain,” but adds that “the American military cannot and should not do this alone.”
“Given President Trump’s insistence that Japan and South Korea increase burden sharing, we should encourage these countries to increase defense spending by focusing on the capabilities—including new capabilities—needed to deter adversaries and protect the First Island Chain,” the report said.
“We will also harden and strengthen our military presence in the Western Pacific, and we will continue our determined rhetoric on increasing defense spending in our relations with Taiwan and Australia.
“Avoiding conflict requires a vigilant posture in the Indo-Pacific, a renewed defense industrial base, greater military investment from ourselves, our allies and partners, and winning economic and technological competitiveness over the long term.”
Mr. Hegseth personally demanded that the Albanian government increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP in a meeting with Mr. Marles earlier this year.
Canberra has staunchly opposed the proposal, with the Prime Minister saying Australia would determine its own defense spending.
The issue also arose when Mr Albanese met with Donald Trump at the White House in October.
However, the US President’s concern while answering journalists’ questions was overshadowed by his praise for his Australian guest.
