Defence Minister Richard Marles says AUKUS represents the “biggest leap” in our military capability “in our history”.
“We are witnessing the biggest conventional military build-up that we have seen since the end of the second world war,” Mr Marles said.
“It’s happening within our region and it is not Australia which is doing that.
“We need to respond to this, a failure to do so would see us be condemned by history.”
