Australia will allow non-citizens to join its armed forces, the government announced on Tuesday, as the sparsely populated nation struggles to meet its recruitment targets.
Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that starting in July, looser eligibility criteria would enable “permanent residents who have been living in Australia for 12 months” to serve in the military. The policy will particularly favor citizens from Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.
Australia, with a coastline that would stretch around the Earth one and a bit times, has a population of just 26 million. In recent years, Canberra has significantly increased defense spending, purchasing fleets of submarines, jets, and numerous fighting vehicles in response to growing regional tensions.
However, the country has faced challenges in recruiting enough pilots, mariners, and troops to operate and maintain this equipment. Experts warn that there are currently too few Australians enlisting to meet even present requirements, let alone the demands of a more robust future military.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the Australian Defense Forces currently have about 90,000 personnel, including reserves. In contrast, China’s military boasts an estimated two million personnel.
Marles emphasized that expanding the Australian Defense Force is “essential to meet the nation’s security challenges through the next decade and beyond.”
