Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles is set to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 30 to June 1. This will be the first trilateral meeting since Donald Trump resumed the U.S. presidency and the Australian Labor Party secured a larger majority in national elections earlier this month.

Marles, who also serves as Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, is expected to discuss proliferating regional threats and the future of Australia’s defense posture. His attendance marks his first international trip since the May elections.

U.S. Pressure on Australian Defense Budget

The talks come amid U.S. calls for Australia to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, stated Australia will lift spending to 2.4%, focusing instead on capability enhancement and strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

Under the AUKUS deal, Australia will pay $2 billion to the U.S. this year to support the American submarine industrial base. However, the long-term nature of AUKUS has drawn criticism over its inability to meet immediate regional threats. Nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS are not expected before 2040, and the planned Virginia-class submarine purchase in 2032 remains uncertain due to production delays.

Urgency for Deterrence and Regional Credibility

“The Government is committed to strengthening our global defence relationships, while deepening our diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific,” Marles said in a statement ahead of the summit.

Defence expert Euan Graham stressed that Marles must reassure allies of Australia's short-term military credibility. “Conventional deterrence has to join up with nuclear deterrence to be credible,” he said, calling on Australia to play a stronger role in U.S. extended nuclear deterrence strategies.

AUKUS Under Scrutiny Amid China Tensions

China has criticized the AUKUS deal, warning it threatens nuclear non-proliferation, though Canberra has maintained that the submarines will be conventionally armed. The trilateral meeting is expected to reinforce strategic alignment among the U.S., Japan, and Australia in the face of increasing geopolitical tension across the Indo-Pacific.