PM’s Defenceombo: Albanese Throws $12BILLION at Trump Ahead of High-Stakes Meeting
- $12 billioncash injection for Henderson Defence Precinct outside Perth to dock nuclear-powered submarines
- AUKUS alliance on life support as Trump administration demands allies increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP
- Albanese government hopes to win over Trump with massive defence boost, but will it be enough to save the AUKUS deal?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is rolling out the red carpet for US President Donald Trump with a staggering $12 billion defence boost, just days before their potential face-to-face meeting at the United Nations General Assembly.
The cash injection will see the Henderson Defence Precinct outside Perth transformed into a state-of-the-art facility, capable of docking nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS trilateral defence agreement. But it’s not just about keeping the Americans happy – the move is also a desperate bid to save the AUKUS alliance, which is on life support as the Trump administration demands allies increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.
For Defence Minister Richard Marles, the massive investment is a no-brainer. **”It’s the biggest peacetime increase in Australia’s defence spending”** in history, he boldly declared on Seven’s Sunrise program. But will it be enough to impress Trump and secure the future of AUKUS?
According to former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos, the timing of the announcement is no coincidence. **”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. But what exactly does Albanese hope to get in return?
Insiders claim the Prime Minister will be seeking assurances from Trump about his support for AUKUS, but it’s a high-stakes game. If the deal falls through, Australia could be left facing a defence capability crisis, with Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor warning that the additional spending doesn’t go far enough to support the rotation of US and UK submarines until late into the 2030s.
As the international geopolitical environment continues to deteriorate, Australia needs to invest in its sovereign defence capabilities – but can Albanese convince Trump to keep the AUKUS alliance afloat? One thing is certain: the stakes have never been higher.