Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed an agreement today to purchase $ 1 billion worth of military equipment.
The deal provides for the purchase by the Korean company Hanwha of 30 self-propelled guns, 15 ammunition transport vehicles and enemy artillery radar, the Australian government explained in a press release.
The main advantage of these self-propelled guns is that “they can open fire and move quickly, avoiding enemy counterattacks” and their acquisition will mean “increasing the firepower and security of the Australian artillery”, the Minister of Defense noted Peter Dutton.
The cost of acquiring these self-propelled guns will reach A $ 1 billion (€ 634 million). According to the Australian press, this is the largest agreement for the purchase of military equipment that Canberra has ever concluded with an Asian country.
Mr Moon is in the Australian capital for a four-day official visit marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Australia and South Korea intend to upgrade their “integrated strategic partnership” during the visit, according to their governments.
Australia has such or equivalent relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, the Fiji Islands, France, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
Mr Dutton said the agreement boosted the firepower of his country’s armed forces and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
He is enrolled in several programs “that will modernize the Australian Army, ensuring that it will continue to maintain its lead in terms of capabilities now and in the future,” he added.
“We are committed to keeping our region safe and defending our interests in a rapidly changing global environment,” he added.
Moon Jae-in is the first foreign leader to visit Australia since the country’s authorities eased restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic and opened the border.
According to Morrison’s government, the deal will create at least 300 jobs in Australia.
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