Canberra completes Defence Strategic Review

Significance

The Defence Strategic Review is intended to prepare the defence forces for changing regional and global conditions. Although the terms of reference did not nominate any specific country as a threat, security strategies are mostly oriented towards containing China.

Impacts

• Australia’s defence forces will need a substantial investment in capabilities before they can fight a regional war.
• Personnel shortages may hinder efforts to expand the sphere of military operations outside Australia.
• Plans to acquire nuclear submarines and long-range missiles could provoke a diplomatic backlash in the region.