Plan for Australia to make powerful missiles for the US after high-level talks in Brisbane
Powerful missiles for the United States would be made by Australia as part of major commitments discussed during high-level talks in Brisbane.
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Australia would manufacture powerful missiles for the United States and bolster its northern bases to increase the presence of American troops under major commitments made between the two nations during high-level talks in Brisbane.
The “joint collective effort” between Australia and the US to develop missile manufacturing capabilities Down Under will be a significant boost to both nation’s defence industry capabilities, with the added bonus of securing and storing war stocks into the future.
The latest deepening of defence and diplomatic co-operation comes amid annual AUSMIN talks between the defence and foreign affairs ministers of both countries — with the high-level meetings hosted in Brisbane for the first time.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong hosted their US counterparts Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for stand-alone discussions on Friday before sitting down for joint Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on Saturday.
The timing of the meeting coincides with Talisman Sabre — major war games in Northern Australia, primarily in Queensland — which this year involve more than 30,000 military personnel from 13 nations.
The stand-alone meeting between Mr Marles and Mr Austin, held at the Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, is the first since the federal government released the Defence Strategic Review which called for a radical reshaping of the nation’s military.
It’s understood discussions were closely aligned with the six priority areas identified for immediate action in the review, including lifting Australia’s ability to make top shelf high-tech military equipment, and giving us the ability to strike further away with homegrown missiles.
Improving Defence’s ability to operate from its northern bases, deepening diplomatic and defence ties with Indo-Pacific neighbours and building personnel numbers were also areas of focus of the review.
And in line with that it’s understood Australia will look to bolster its bare bases — including RAAF Base Scherger and Curtin in Weipa and Derby respectively — to make it infrastructure ready for visiting troops.
Mr Marles said the meeting with his counterpart yielded a “significant commitment” on a “joint collective effort in terms of the development of missile manufacture”.
“This is really important for the industrial base of both of our countries, it is hugely significant in terms of developing Australia’s defence industry,” he said.
“It will be very important in ensuring Australia has the necessary war stocks in the future.
“We will be looking at commencing manufacturing process in two years’ time … which brings forward the time frame significantly.”
The pair also discussed the plan to sell American nuclear submarines to Australia as part of the trilateral AUKUS pact, with Mr Marles saying he was confident crucial laws to make this happen would make it through US Congress despite an ongoing Republican rebellion.
“What is clear is that there is bipartisan support, both in the United States and in Australia, to see Australia become the seventh country in the world that can operate a nuclear powered submarine,” he said.
Earlier in the day Mr Austin asserted the alliance between the US and Australia was “unbreakable” and the need to work together was “key” in achieving a free and open Indo Pacific.
And he declared Australia’s efforts to defend itself, alongside Pacific partners, against China’s “bullying behaviour” will be bolstered by the United States.
“We seek a region where all countries are secure and prosperous, where states follow international law and international norms, where disputes are resolved peacefully about coercion,” he said.
“And I know that both of our countries are concerned about attempts by the People’s Republic of China to depart from these principles.
“We’ve seen troubling (Chinese) coercion from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to right here in the Southwest Pacific, and will continue to support our allies and partners as they defend themselves from bullying behaviour.”
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