AUSTRALIA will be seeing more US troops, more US planes, more us ships, and more US weapons on its shores as Washington seeks to expand its military-industrial base.
U.S. will seek to boost its shrinking weapons stockpiles by helping Australia develop a missile manufacturing and exporting industry.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced the project after meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III in the City of Brisbane.
Marles expressed hope that missile manufacturing could begin in Australia in the next two years.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the plan which would mutually benefit both countries would help the United States to sharpen its technological edge and strengthen its defense industrial base as he affirmed stronger US military presence in Australia.
Marles expressed hope the two-day meetings known as the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultation held in Brisbane heavily focused on regional security and military cooperation.
After the talks, Marles and Austin traveled to North Queensland to observe the ongoing exercise Talisman Sabre participated by 30,000 troops from 13 countries.
The massive joint military exercise however were put on hold on Saturday after an Australian military helicopter participating in the war games crashed into the ocean, killing four soldiers.
The expansion of the US military footprint on the southern continent aims to establish stronger defense ties amid China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific.
