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Approximately 2,200 US Marines plan to pass Darwin in the 2021 rotation, as Canberra also focuses on enhancing air and sea capabilities.
Australia announced that more U.S. troops will rotate in the island country and allies will cooperate in missile development. This is the latest joint move amid common concerns about China’s growing toughness in the region.
Australia announced earlier Tripartite alliance with the U.S. and U.K. Canberra will purchase nuclear-powered submarines in it, which angered France, and its own key contract for conventional submarines was cancelled.
Secretary of Defense Peter Dutton said in an overview of further measures for his visit to Washington that Australia will “significantly strengthen” cooperation, including joint development of missiles and explosive ordnance.
He said Australia would like to see more US Marines passing through the northern city of Darwin in the 10-year rotation.
“I really want to make sure that we can increase the number of troops through rotation,” Dutton said.
“The air capabilities will be enhanced, our maritime capabilities will be enhanced, and the power situation will definitely be enhanced.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said earlier that Australia will receive a long-range Tomahawk cruise missile.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also did not provide figures, confirming that the United States “will expand our access and presence in Australia.”
Austin said the two allies discussed their concerns about China at a four-party meeting between Secretary of State Anthony Blincoln and Foreign Secretary Mary Spean.
“Although we seek to establish a constructive, results-oriented relationship with China, we remain sober about Beijing’s efforts to disrupt the established international order,” Austin said.
Beijing’s anger
China has expressed anger over the nuclear submarine deal because Australia is facing increasing commercial and diplomatic pressure from Asian powers, and Asia is the main destination for Australia’s food and energy exports.
“Beijing has seen in the past few months that Australia will not back down and the threat of economic retaliation and pressure will not work at all,” Brinken said.
“The United States will not leave Australia alone on the court, or better yet, on the court,” he said with a sports metaphor.
Approximately 2,200 US Marines plan to pass Darwin in the 2021 rotation, but are restricted due to COVID-19 and Australia’s strict quarantine measures.
As Washington strengthens its military presence in strategic locations, a task force of 200 US Marines arrives in Darwin, Australia [File: Christopher Dickson/Australian Department of Defence via AFP]President Joe Biden mentioned the need to pay attention to China when he controversially withdrew the last batch of US troops from Afghanistan last month.
Another sign for China is that Morrison will travel to Washington next week for the first face-to-face four-party summit with Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Dutton also pointed out that Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea are Australia’s partners in the region.
“They understand the values we uphold, and we have upheld these values for a long time,” he said.
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