IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer, Human Rights Activist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA RELEASE 27 April 2026
Global Military Spending Hits Record Highs:
Media Interviews: Bevan Ramsden M: 0418 697 528
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow M: 0403 611 815
Peace Group warns Australia Must Develop Its Own Independent Defence Strategy
- Australia is increasing its military spending partly due to pressure from the Trump administration and growing uncertainty over US support[1].
- IPAN is deeply concerned that Australia’s escalating military budget is being shaped by US demands rather than Australia’s own independent assessment of its security needs.
- IPAN calls on the Australian Government to develop its own sovereign, self-reliant defence strategy — one based on independent decision-making, not alliance obligations.
- True independence is not measured in dollars spent on military hardware, but in Australia’s capacity to make its own sovereign decisions on foreign and defence policy.
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) has responded with serious concern to new data published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which reveals that global military expenditure reached an unprecedented $2887 billion in 2025 — the eleventh consecutive year of growth.
Of particular concern to IPAN is SIPRI’s direct identification of Australia as a country increasing its military spending under US pressure. SIPRI Senior Researcher Diego Lopes da Silva stated:
‘US allies in Asia and Oceania such as Australia, Japan and the Philippines are spending more on their militaries, not only due to long-standing regional tensions but also due to growing uncertainty over US support. As in Europe, US allies in Asia and Oceania are also under pressure from the Trump administration to spend more on their militaries.’
IPAN notes that SIPRI identifies two distinct drivers behind Australia’s increased military spending: direct pressure from the Trump administration to spend more, and a growing anxiety that the United States may not be a reliable ally. IPAN regards both of these as compelling reasons for Australia to chart a fundamentally different course.
‘IPAN is deeply concerned that Australia’s increasing military expenditure is being driven by US pressure rather than by Australia’s own independent assessment of its security needs,’ said Mr Bevan Ramsden, spokesperson for IPAN.
This is particularly demonstrated by Australia signing into the AUKUS Security Pact with the US and UK to contain and confront China and preparing to spend $375 billion, most probably more, on acquisition of nuclear hunter-killer submarines for this purpose.
“In any case” said mr Ramsden, “”security” extends well beyond “military security” and indeed may, in practice, be even more important; that is food security, fuel security, transport security and climate security. These are the areas in which we need increased public spending not in military “security” which in fact may not make us more secure but only lead us into another US war”.
‘We do not equate Australia’s level of military expenditure with its independence. Independence is about independent decision-making on policy matters. Spending more on the military because Washington demands it is the opposite of independence,’ said Mr Ramsden.
‘The fact that Australia is also spending more because it fears the United States may not support it is itself a damning indictment of Australia’s alliance with the US’.
‘If our major ally is unreliable, the answer is not to spend more propping up that alliance — the answer is to develop our own sovereign, self-reliant defence strategy’, said Mr Ramsden.
IPAN calls on the Australian Government to undertake a genuine, independent strategic review that is free from US influence, and to develop a self defence strategy grounded in Australia’s own national interests, regional relationships, and commitment to international law.
Such a strategy would prioritise diplomacy, regional cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution over the acquisition of offensive military capabilities designed to serve US strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific.
‘Australia’s security is best served not by following the United States into conflicts not of our making, but by building strong, respectful relationships with our neighbours and playing a constructive role in regional and global peace’, said Mr Ramsden.
‘The Australian people deserve a foreign and defence policy that is made in Australia, for Australia,’ Mr Ramsden concluded.
ENDS
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About IPAN: IPAN represent many organisations across Australia – community, faith and peace groups, trade unions – and concerned individuals aiming to build public dialogue and pressure for change to a truly independent foreign policy for Australia – one in which our government plays a positive role in solving international conflicts peacefully. www.ipan.org.au
Bio: Bevan Ramsden is an ex-telecommunications engineer and telecommunications teacher and a long-time peace activist going back to the Vietnam Moratorium Campaign and campaign against conscription in the 1970s. Bevan was a member of the IPAN coordinating committee for a number of years and is the editor of its monthly publication, Voice.
[1] Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Fact Sheet, April 2026, TRENDS IN WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE, 2025 https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/2604_milex_2025.pdf