Australia, US kicks off largest ever military exercise

Australia, US kicks off largest ever military exercise

AUSTRALIA and the United States started their largest joint military exercise to date.

At least 30,000 troops from 13 countries are participating in the ongoing war games in Australia.

Dubbed exercise Talisman Sabre, the biennial military exercises started on Friday, July 21, and will run for two weeks.

The joint military exercises started in 2005 but the drills held this year will be the largest yet.

The drills will involve German troops for the first time.

According to the US Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro, the war games led by Australia and the United States aim to send a message to China that America’s allies are cooperating to defend their security and democratic values.

Australian Minister of Defense Richard Marles and his American counterpart welcomed the ever-closer closer bilateral military ties as they launched the exercise at a Sydney Naval Base.

Both sides were also upbeat about the progress on the so-called AUKUS deal under which Australia will be granted a fleet of submarines by the US and Britain powered by America’s nuclear technology.

For Western allies, the timeliness of the exercise serves as a show of force and unity at a time when China has emerged as an increasingly assertive influence in the Indo-Pacific.

 

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