By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia will start co-manufacturing guided weapons with the US subsequent yr to spice up provide for allies within the Indo Pacific and enhance a US navy presence within the nation, together with bomber plane, the 2 nations mentioned after annual defence talks.
Australia and the USA are already working to improve air bases in northern and western Australia, that are nearer to potential flashpoints with China within the South China Sea than Australia’s capital of Canberra.
After annual AUSMIN talks in Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned there could be a rise within the presence of rotational U.S. forces in Australia.
“This will mean more maritime patrol aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft operating from bases across northern Australia. It will also mean more frequent rotational bomber deployments,” he mentioned.
In opening remarks Austin mentioned the 2 allies confronted shared safety challenges together with “coercive behaviour” by China.
A joint assertion launched after the AUSMIN talks expressed concern over Chinese language navy exercise round Taiwan, and China’s extreme maritime claims within the South China Sea.
They “noted grave concern about China’s dangerous and escalatory behavior toward Philippine vessels lawfully operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone”.
There aren’t any U.S. navy bases in Australia, however the northern metropolis of Darwin hosts a U.S. Marine Rotational Pressure six months of every yr and the U.S. is constructing amenities for its marines and visiting air squadrons inside Australian bases.
Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles mentioned the presence of United States forces in Australia contributed to deterrence within the Indo Pacific area, and there could be nearer collaboration on guided weapons manufacture in Australia.
Australia will start co-manufacturing guided missiles subsequent yr, together with the Guided A number of Launch Rocket Methods (GMLRS) utilized in Ukraine.
Australia can be testing a Hypersonic Assault Cruise Missile (HACM) with the USA, which Australia mentioned it’s going to think about fielding as its first hypersonic weapon for fighter jets, the joint assertion mentioned.
“The presence of American force posture in our nation provides an enormous opportunity to work with our neighbors in the region,” Marles mentioned.
Japan would enhance workouts with U.S. Marines in Darwin, whereas Australia and the U.S. would maintain common workouts within the Philippines unique financial zone, the assertion mentioned.
The assertion talked about Australia’s strategic Indian Ocean territory, Cocos Islands, for the primary time, saying the USA welcomed Australia’s deliberate infrastructure upgrades there and supported Australia’s completion of this work.
The Cocos Islands, with a inhabitants of 600, sits 3,000 km (1,864 miles) west of the Australian mainland and is described by the Australian Defence Pressure as key to its maritime surveillance operations within the Indian Ocean, the place China is rising submarine exercise.
Australia has mentioned it’s going to begin building on an expanded airfield on the island this yr, to hold heavier navy plane, together with the submarine-hunting P-8A Poseidon.
Australian Strategic Coverage Institute govt director Justin Bassi mentioned the “clarity on the threat from Beijing and support for the Philippines” within the joint assertion was “vital” help for Manila.
