Has Marles bowed to Trump’s wishes on defence spending? The figures are as clear as mud

In an address to the National Press Club, Richard Marles said the government would spend $14bn more over the four-year forward estimates period on defence, and $53bn more over the next decade. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

If there’s anyone who knows just how much pressure Donald Trump is heaping on allies to lift defence spending, it’s Richard Marles.

The message was received loud and clear when he met his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Singapore nearly a year ago.