The United States has asked the Australian government to "increase defense expenses as soon as possible." The press service of the Pentagon stated this.
This call was made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsyan to a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marlz, which took place on Friday by the Shangri-La Dialogue Forum in Singapore. Marls have already announced the media that his American counterpart called on him to increase military spending, but did not specify how much it did.
"Defense spending said that Minister Hegsyan said that Australia needs to pay its military spending as soon as possible by 3.5% of GDP," the Pentagon's statement said.
Both sides also discussed "security investments in the Indian-Pacific region, accelerating the US military presence, the development of the defense industry cooperation and the strengthening of the supply chain flexibility."
