Washington | American ships, bomber planes, satellites and military base personnel will all have a significantly increased presence across Australia in a new era of co-operation, designed to ensure an enhanced level of “match fitness†in the Indo-Pacific.
On the heels of the newly-announced AUKUS alliance between Australia, the United States and United Kingdom, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton announced a significant ramp-up in military presence due to the deteriorating Indo-Pacific situation characterised by rising coercion from China.
“I’m proud to announce that Australia in the United States will be significantly enhancing our forced posture co-operation, increasing interoperability and deepening alliance activities in the Indo-Pacific,†Mr Dutton said.
“This will include greater air co-operation, through rotation deployments of all types of US military aircraft to Australia.
I’m pleased to announce that the Australian Department of Defence and the United States National Reconnaissance Office have also committed to a broad range of satellite activities,†Mr Dutton said.
Secretary Austin confirmed the expansion of US presence in Australia and while he said the new arrangements were “not aimed at anything or anyoneâ€, he said nations needed to be clear-eyed on China’s agenda in the region.
Mr Dutton said he was not surprised by China’s negative response to the beefed up military relationship with the United States and said that the reality of the new arrangements was all about securing the region in the context of China’s approach.
The United States will not leave Australia alone on the field, or better yet, on the pitch,†Mr Blinken said.