The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will allow recruits from a handful of foreign countries, including the UK, to help grow its ranks.Australia has been struggling with recruitment shortfalls, as it seeks to beef up its armed forces in the face of what it says are growing regional threats.

Foreign citizens living permanently in Australia will soon be able to serve in Australia's armed forces, as part of an effort to boost sluggish recruitment.

The announcement is another demonstration that Labor is implementing its April defence strategy, which called for the military to be prepared to fight a war in the Indo-Pacific targeting China.

The recruits will initially be limited to those from New Zealand, the US, the UK and Canada. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Australia is set to start recruiting some noncitizens to boost military numbers, focusing on people from Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, officials say.

The Australian military will begin recruiting some noncitizens in a bid to boost troop numbers, the government said Tuesday. Only people from other members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership who hold Australian permanent residency will be eligible.

Eligible applicants from the U.K., U.S. and Canada will be able to apply to join the Australian Defence Force beginning in January 2025. The ADF announced the change Tuesday, as part of its efforts to bolster recruitment.