Sydney, Australia: Australia announced on Tuesday that it will open its armed forces to non-citizens in an effort to address recruitment shortages in the sparsely populated country.
Defence Minister Richard Marles revealed that starting in July, the eligibility criteria will be relaxed to allow “permanent residents who have resided in Australia for 12 months” to enlist.
Preference will be given to citizens from Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, Marles noted.
Despite having a vast coastline, Australia struggles with recruitment due to its relatively small population of 26 million. In response, Canberra has increased defence spending, acquiring submarines, jets, and fighting vehicles to tackle growing regional tensions. However, finding sufficient personnel, including pilots, mariners, and troops, to operate and maintain these assets has proven challenging.
Experts caution that the current number of uniformed Australians falls short of meeting existing requirements, let alone the demands of a larger military in the future.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the Australian Defence Forces currently consist of around 90,000 personnel, including reserves. In contrast, China’s military boasts an estimated two million personnel.
Marles emphasized the necessity of expanding the Australian Defence Force to address security challenges not only in the present but also in the coming decade and beyond.
