The United States should welcome the more outward-looking defense posture embodied in the Australian white paper released on Dec. 6. Although the country's armed forces will remain configured mostly for the defense of Australia, enhanced capabilities can also be used to contribute to allied coalitions farther afield. In particular, the decision to improve the capabilities of the surface navy shows that Australia intends to be a more credible ally of the United States.
Support for a much-needed boost in defense spending now exists because last year's Australia's U.N.-authorized intervention in East Timor revealed equipment deficiencies.
The white paper foreshadows increases in defense spending of 3 percent annually for the next decade. New capabilities will include four new Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, with the option of three more later. Air capabilities will be further enhanced by upgrades and eventual replacement of the F-18 strike aircraft; a follow-on for the strike capabilities of the aging F-111 strike aircraft; and new refueling aircraft. Improvements in maritime capabilities will include at least three new air warfare destroyers and the replacement of 15 patrol boats. Ground capabilities will be increased by maintaining six infantry battalions at high readiness, an increase of two battalions made necessary by the Timor deployment.