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To counter China, USA to set up another military base in Australia

U.S. to Build Up Military in Australia, WSJ, By LAURA MECKLER, WASHINGTON, 12 Nov 11—President Barack Obama will announce an accord for a new and permanent U.S. military presence in Australia when he visits next week, a step aimed at countering China’s influence and reasserting U.S. interest in the region, said people familiar with his plans.

The agreement will lead to an increase in U.S. naval operations off the coast of Australia and give American troops and ships “permanent and constant” access to Australian facilities, the people said. While no new American bases will be built under the plan, the arrangement will allow U.S. forces to place equipment in Australia and set up more
joint exercises, they said…..

It was unclear how much the new presence would cost the Pentagon, which is facing years and hundreds of billion dollars in spending cuts….. One base slated for the stepped-up American presence is in Darwin, on the country’s north coast. Other locations are possible, including one near Perth, on the west coast, one person said…..

Officials declined to detail how many new troops or sailors would be part of the U.S. effort, or how many ships would be stationed in the area, ahead of Mr. Obama’s announcement next week. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, while traveling throughout the region last month, vowed an expansion in U.S. influence, but also declined to specify costs or
force sizes. An administration official said the stepped-up presence will be phased in over several years under the agreement. The deal isn’t yet final and details could change.

On his trip, Mr. Obama will mark the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Australian alliance with a speech to Parliament and a visit to a military base in Darwin, where he and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will jointly address Australian troops…..The full range of U.S. naval ships is expected to rotate through the joint facilities, stopping for exercises as well as repairs and other shore work. Naval aircraft also will have access to a base in Darwin.

The increased U.S. presence will be a rotating force, one person said. In September, Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the enhance cooperation would be “more ships in, ships out; more planes in, planes out; more troops in, troops out.”…. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203537304577028490161890480.html

November 13, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, USA, weapons and war