SYDNEY -- Australia's Prime Minister says his country will "determine our defense policy," after U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called for the country to lift defense spending to 3.5% of its gross domestic product, something that would require tens of billions of dollars of additional funding a year.
Defense
We decide defense policy: Australia PM reacts to US spending demand
Hegseth asks Australia to lift defense budget to 3.5% of GDP 'as soon as possible'
Two Royal Australian Air Force cargo planes fly over soldiers during a recent exercise: The size of the country's defense budget is a topic of debate. (Australia Government Department of Defence)
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