Dhaka, April 15 -- Australia on Wednesday said it would ‌raise defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product by 2033 from about 2% currently, in response to the most "complex and threatening" circumstances since World War Two.

The expansion would be achieved through ​an additional A$14 billion ($10 billion) in expenditure over four years and A$53 ​billion over the next decade, the government said.

Australia has been looking to ⁠develop its defence capabilities amid concerns over rising global geopolitical tensions and China's ​tussle with the U.S. for influence in the Indo-Pacific.

The Trump administration in the U.S. has ​called on Canberra to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.

Australia's ce...