This paper addresses the strategic challenges influencing Australia's defence and security needs and argues that countering a worsening national security outlook by strengthening the Australian Defence Force and building international alliances should be an urgent priority for government. 

This series of publications (of which this paper is the first) will look in more detail at what needs to be done to strengthen Australia’s defence. The authors present six recommendations designed to strengthen key relationships, build deterrence and strike capability and get preparations underway to build a greater defence presence in Australia’s north.

Recommendations

• The government should seek to acquire the B-21 Raider stealth bomber as an additional element to AUKUS, also offering to host a US B-21 contingent in Australia. This is to strengthen deterrence in the 2020s and manage the risk of delays in the AUKUS submarine.
• Expand between 2025 and 2028 the US marine corps rotational presence in northern Australia to around 16,000– a marine expeditionary brigade– working with the Australian army’s developing littoral warfare capability.
• Bring Japan as close as possible into ANZUS cooperation and invite the Self-Defence Force to permanently join rotational deployments with the Australian and US military units in northern Australia.
• Develop a stronger defence and intelligence relationship with India, recognising the country’s long-term strengths and trajectory.
• Build a pacific response force with the Pacific Island countries focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and building PIC community resilience.
• Establish permanent links, a stronger ADF presence and supporting infrastructure in the top end, the Cocos and Christmas Islands and Norfolk Island.