Australia will permit non-citizens to enlist in its armed forces, the government announced on Tuesday, in response to the country’s difficulties in achieving recruitment goals. Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that starting in July, relaxed eligibility requirements will enable “permanent residents who have been living in Australia for 12 months” to join.
Preference will be given to citizens from Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, he added.
Australia’s coastline is extensive enough to encircle the Earth more than once, yet it has a population of merely 26 million.
Canberra has significantly increased defense spending recently, acquiring fleets of submarines, jets, and numerous fighting vehicles to address growing regional tensions.
However, it has faced challenges in recruiting sufficient pilots, mariners, and troops to operate and maintain these assets.
Experts caution that too few Australians are enlisted to fulfill even current demands, let alone the needs of an expanded future military.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the Australian Defence Forces currently have about 90,000 personnel, including reserves.
In contrast, China’s military is estimated to have around two million personnel.
Marles emphasized that expanding the Australian Defence Force is “essential to meet the nation’s security challenges through the next decade and beyond”.