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Australia to bolster forces

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Australia will expand its armed forces to enhance its "leadership role" in maintaining security and stability in the neighbouring region and in "areas further afield."

Two parallel decisions, marking a "major increase in the size of the Australian Army" and "the largest single increase" in the staff of the Federal police, have been announced by Prime Minister John Howard.

The moves acquire importance in the context of Canberra's recent deployment of troops in East Timor in the neighbourhood. Australia's continuing support for the U.S.-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has also been cited as a determining factor. With Australia having joined the U.S. and Japan in March in a trilateral strategic initiative of dialogue, the latest exercise assumes political importance as well. However, Canberra had emphasised then that the trilateral accord "should not be interpreted as an act of conspiracy against China."

The Australian Army will now be increased to eight battalions from the current six, and the additional soldiers to be recruited number 2,600.

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