Australia on Thursday announced it will expand its active defense personnel by a third by 2040 "to keep Australians safe in an increasingly uncertain global environment."
In a statement, the premier's office said the force would grow by 18,500 personnel to 80,000 over the 18-year period, at a cost of some AU$38 billion ($27 billion).
"The first priority of my government is keeping Australians safe and to do that we need a bigger ADF with more soldiers, sailors and airmen and women to operate the cutting-edge capabilities we're getting to protect Australia," said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is expected to call a general election in May.
"Our world is becoming increasingly uncertain so it's important we take steps now to protect our people and our national interest over the coming decades," he added.
He said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will be increased in every state and territory, with a particular focus on capabilities associated with the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS).
Defense Minister Peter Dutton said the expansion plan "will enable us to deliver our nuclear-powered submarines, ships, aircraft and advanced weapons. It will mean we can build warfighting capabilities in the domains of space, and information and cyber."
The AUKUS security pact, signed last year, allows Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines, a deal China says will undermine regional peace and stability, and intensify the arms race.
