<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has hinted that the world could be on the "foothills" of a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/nuclear" rel="" target="_blank" title="new nuclear arms race"><span>new nuclear arms race</span></a><span>, revealing this is why the Australian government </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/defence" rel="" target="_blank" title="has expanded its military funding."><span>has expanded its military funding.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Marles said the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/ozersk-city-40-secret-russian-city-cold-war-graveyard-of-the-earth/9644dcbb-e94f-44c6-b69e-4e3e4ca96455" rel="" target="_blank" title="Cold War era"><span>Cold War era</span></a><span> of strict nuclear arms control expired this year and the "global rules-based order" nations once operated under has been torn up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Cold War era of nuclear arms control – put in place to limit the risk of catastrophic nuclear confrontation – ended this year with the expiry of the last remaining agreement limiting the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed by Russia and the United States – the countries with the two largest stockpiles," Marles said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-forecast-supply-geelong-oil-refinery-fire-update/e2b90419-e37c-462b-85de-68b01f4031d1" rel="" target="_blank" title="Fuel prices to hike again after Geelong oil refinery fire slashes output"><strong><span>Fuel prices to hike again after Geelong oil refinery fire slashes output</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All nuclear weapon states are growing their arsenals once more, with the biggest growth occurring in China.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Absent new arms control efforts, we may be at the foothills of a new nuclear arms race.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This struggle is not abstract. It will drive elevated risks to Australia's security and prosperity over the coming decade."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nuclear-arms-race-defence-minister-richard-marles-ominous-warning/5345ee72-f604-4a35-a890-5f1cfd31a57c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The defence minister said the looming nuclear threat is why Australia has invested heavily in its long-term military capability.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marles described Australia's $53 billion defence plan as one that strengthens "self-reliance" into the next decade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said military spending under Labor has increased by up to $30 billion over the forward estimates.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is an extra $117 billion over the next 10 years, Marles added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To place this in context, the former Coalition government, which governed during a period when all the trends we are wrestling with today were just as present then, increased defence spending by just $10 billion over the decade," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-15-donald-trump-strait-of-hormuz-blockade/ec13877c-524d-470a-97fb-2a683f1d1667"><strong><span>As war chaos deepens, one nation is playing a unique role</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Among the major defence investments made by the government recently has been the acquisition of nuclear submarines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marles said "major progress" had been made on the AUKUS agreement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government has undertaken the most ambitious modernisation of Australia's maritime capability since the Second World War," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But fortifying Australia's military in the name of self-reliance "should not be confused with military self‑sufficiency", Marles said, adding that Australia's relationship with allies including the US remains important.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Alliances, especially with the United States, will always be fundamental to Australia's defence," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cfmeu-to-offer-fuel-vouchers-to-eligible-apprentices-to-shield-young-union-members-from-fuel-shock/c29cfbf7-0fc6-4c79-93fb-638fb93f9b3c" rel="" target="_blank" title="Thousands of union tradies to be offered $100 fuel vouchers"><strong><span>Thousands of union tradies to be offered $100 fuel vouchers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Australia will do 'all within our power' to bring peace</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In his opening remarks, Marles insisted Australia was doing everything it could to bring lasting peace to the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The current ceasefire in the Middle East is an opportunity to move back from the brink," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Open the Strait of Hormuz, restore the global fuel supply chain, and place events on a path to peace.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For our part, Australia will do all within our power to help make this temporary ceasefire permanent."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here 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