US pushes security ally Australia to spend more on defence

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro, at Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) -U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked security ally Australia to increase defence spending in a meeting with Defence Minister Richard Marles on Friday in Singapore.

The defence chiefs also discussed the need to significantly lift U.S. submarine production rates to meet AUKUS targets.