Australian army to allow recruits from foreign nations

• Australia, the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand also work closely together in intelligence sharing under an alliance called the Five Eyes.
• There is a focus on recruiting people from these nations, any" eligible permanent resident can apply.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Australia is opening its military (ADF) to permanent residents from the Five Eyes countries (US, UK, Canada, New Zealand).
• This is to address a shortage of soldiers and build a stronger defense against potential threats, especially those that might disrupt trade routes.
• Australia depends heavily on shipping and air travel for trade, and wants a larger military to protect its economic interests and freedom of action. The ADF is currently understaffed by 4,400 and aims to grow significantly in the next decade.
• The Five Eyes are intelligence-sharing allies. They share information like phone calls and emails to keep each other safe. They trust each other a lot because of their history and similar governments. They have strict rules to keep this shared information secret.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Five Eyes
• India- Australia