NAIROBI, Kenya – The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will now permit recruits from foreign countries, including the UK, to address enlistment shortfalls and strengthen its armed forces amid what it identifies as increasing regional threats.
Beginning in July, New Zealand nationals who are permanent residents of Australia can apply to join the ADF.
From next year, this opportunity will extend to recruits from the UK, the US, Canada, and other countries.
Defence Minister Richard Marles described the changes to eligibility requirements as “essential to meet the nation’s security challenges through the next decade and beyond.”
Australia and New Zealand share a longstanding “Anzac bond,” reflecting their history of fighting side-by-side at Gallipoli in World War One.
In recent years, Australia has also sought to deepen ties with the UK and the US, notably through the Aukus pact signed in 2021.
This defence and security alliance aims to address Chinese military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Five Eyes alliance, which includes Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, and New Zealand, already facilitates close intelligence-sharing cooperation.
While recruitment efforts will focus on individuals from these nations, Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh announced that starting January 1, any eligible permanent resident can apply.
Canberra has consistently voiced concerns about Beijing’s assertiveness. A strategic review of the ADF last year highlighted the importance of “growth and retention of a highly skilled defence workforce” as a critical response measure.
The previous Australian government in 2020 allocated A$38bn (£19.8bn; $25.4bn) to increase the number of uniformed personnel by 30% within two decades.
However, Keogh noted that low unemployment rates in Australia have made recruitment “very difficult,” with recent figures estimating a shortfall of approximately 4,400 personnel in the ADF.
While Australia has historically accepted small numbers of military transfers from allied nations, the new eligibility rules aim to significantly expand the pool of potential recruits.
In addition to meeting ADF entry standards and security requirements, applicants must have been permanent residents of Australia for over a year, must not have served in a foreign military in the previous two years, and must be eligible for Australian citizenship, which they are expected to accept after 90 days of service.
The opposition’s foreign affairs spokesman, Simon Birmingham, expressed conditional support for the plan but criticized the government’s defence strategy for undermining confidence and morale within the defence force.
