04-06-2024
•
Reading time 2 minutes
602 Views
•
Memorizes
A seismic shift in Australian defence. From now on, it is no longer necessary to be an Australian citizen to serve in the Australian Defense Force. This measure comes because the Ministry of Defense is no longer able to fill 4,400 vacant positions. In fact, the government wants to expand the army, which currently consists of 63,600 full-time personnel, including vacant positions, to 80,000. As in Europe, military tensions are also rising in the eastern part of the Southern Hemisphere, where China is increasingly threatening a show of force. By expanding its armed forces, Australia wants to prevent China from being able to close trade routes.
Currently, only immigrants are invited from countries that cooperate in the Five Eyes (FVEY) security project, which includes, in addition to Australia, English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Applicants are only eligible if they have a permanent residence permit as immigrants.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Australia relied heavily on sea and air trade routes. The country has previously teamed up with the US and UK to build a fleet of Australian submarines powered by US nuclear technology. China objected to purchasing those warships.
There have already been some confrontations between China and Australia. For example, China reportedly endangered an Australian Navy helicopter by firing flares. An Australian diver was injured in a Chinese attack with sonar equipment. China denies these accusations, the South China Morning Post reported.
![](https://www.aviationanalysis.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/22.jpg)
Zombie specialist. Friendly twitter guru. Internet buff. Organizer. Coffee trailblazer. Lifelong problem solver. Certified travel enthusiast. Alcohol geek.