- Australia has released its 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) and Integrated Investment Programme (IIP) today, 16 April
- In the latter, the Government has pledged to spend A$425bn ($304bn) in defence over the next ten years
- In doing so, Canberra revealed its top spending priorities: sea denial, air mobility and long-range effects.
It has been two years since Australia published its last def...
The strongest version of this narrative is that Australia’s defence strategy is a pragmatic response to the Indo-Pacific’s strategic realities, prioritizing capabilities that enhance deterrence and power projection in a region where maritime dominance and long-range strike are critical. The focus on undersea warfare, air mobility, and long-range effects aligns with the geographic and geopolitical challenges of the region, and the continuity from the 2024 strategy suggests a measured, long-term a...