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Donald Trump has outlined plans for a substantial expansion of the US military if he's elected President.
The Republican Presidential candidate says he wants to recruit an additional 50 thousand troops, modernize the country's naval cruisers and develop a new missile defense system.
He was speaking ahead of a televised forum in the United States that will see Mr. Trump and his rival, Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, lay out their respective approaches to national security.
From Washington, Simon Marks reports.
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This was as detailed a presentation about defense policy - or any policy, for that matter - that Donald Trump has ever delivered.
Speaking in Philadelphia, and again adopting the measured tones that he's deployed throughout the week, Mr. Trump said if he finds himself sitting in the Oval Office next January, he'll order a massive military overhaul.
He wants a standing army 540 thousand strong - that would entail recruiting an additional 50 thousand troops.
He wants to modernize the US Navy and deploy a new class of destroyers around the world.
He wants to develop America's cyber warfare capabilities…..and also implement a missile defense shield to deal with the modern-day threats he says the country faces.
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He outlined plans to force America's allies in NATO and beyond it to pay their fair share towards the costs of the US military umbrella.
South Korea, Japan Saudi Arabia and Germany were specifically mentioned in the speech, Mr. Trump saying each of them need to pay more to defray the costs of US protection.
In many areas, the speech echoed policy proposals that have previously been put forward by the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation here in Washington.
Particularly the argument that renewed military spending in America will help create jobs from coast to coast.
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There was no immediate response from the Clinton campaign to the Trump proposals….but the two candidates will face off in separate interviews on US television on Wednesday night about their national security strategy.
The Clinton team did release a new TV ad turning Mr. Trump's own words over the past few months against him.
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There are limits to the specific details Mr. Trump is offering.
He won't, for example, explain exactly how he plans to defeat Islamic State until a month into his Presidency…by when, he says, his top advisers will be expected to deliver their recommendations.
But what Donald Trump has achieved so far this week is a badly-needed demonstration that he can stay on message…and put his message across without resorting to the violent, bigoted language that has often been a hallmark of his campaign performances to date.
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