(Jul 22, 2022)
On his first visit to Washington, Australia’s new Defence Minister Richard Marles has warned the region is facing a military build-up “at a rate unseen since World War II” and is part of an “intensification of major power competition”.
What to do when we see a dangerous escalation? Well, escalate some more! Bring in as much military hardware as you can! Arm to the teeth, that’s what I take Marles to say. Not only does the United States need to commit even more military resources to the region, he urges, Australia itself must take “greater responsibility for its own security,” including enlarging its defence capabilities. “This will include capabilities such as longer-range strike weapons, cyber capabilities and area denial systems tailored to a broader range of threats.”