Argument about latrines stalls talks over number of US Marines in northern Australia

PLANS to boost the number of US Marines rotated through northern Australia and base US aircraft there have been stalled as officials argue over latrines.

Australia and US bogged down in loo dispute

• Australia can’t negotiate with ISIS
• Phillipine court OK’s US military deal

PLANS to boost the number of US Marines rotated through northern Australia and base US aircraft there have been stalled as officials argue over who is going to build the latrines.

The most important recent strategic agreement for the region has literally been bogged down in a $30 million cash dispute between the two countries over additional infrastructure needed — including airstrips, barracks, sewerage and power.

Despite the deal to lift US troop numbers and base US aircraft for the first time on Australian soil being signed in 2011 — as part of the US’s force posture pivot to the Asia Pacific region — work has yet to start on the infrastructure.

A senior intelligence source confirmed to The Daily Telegraph there was now a stand-off between the US and Australia over who would pay.

The issue is likely to be raised when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives in Washington tonight.

His first meeting on the first official visit to the US will be with Defence Secretary Ash Carter tomorrow with discussions likely to include progress on the US pivot to Asia as well as the obvious issues of global terrorism and the military campaign to defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Defence sources told The Daily Telegraph that it was essential that Mr Turnbull push the issue with secretary Carter to find a resolution.

“It is literally quibbling over who is going to build the ­latrines,” a senior government source said.

Australian officials believe that the US should pay to build the infrastructure to house their marines.

Debrief with the chief ... Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets with troops ahead of his visit to Iraq. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

The US believes that due to the joint partnership, Australia should contribute some funding.

It is believed the amount in dispute is about $30 million.

Sources said that it was “peanuts” considering the US defence budget was close to $1 trillion and Australia’s will top $31 billion this year.

Despite the agreement to increase marine rotations from 1150 to 2500 being struck in 2011 between US President Barack Obama and then prime minister Julia Gillard, work has not begun on the additional infrastructure needed.

Upgrades to airport infrastructure needed for the ramp-up of US air force flights in and out of Australia is also yet to happen.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggested it was time for European countries to step up their efforts in the fight against Islamic State during his visit. Picture: Alex Ellinghausen

Defence sources said several rounds of negotiations had yet to resolve the impasse.

The stand-off is being described in diplomatic circles as an embarrassing and unnecessary fissure in the US Australia alliance.

Legal agreement for the increased presence of US marines was finalised by the Abbott government in 2014. But since then ongoing rounds of meetings have failed to eventuate in boots on the ground.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said: “Australia and the US continue to work towards effectively implementing the Force Posture Initiatives, including finalising cost-sharing arrangements.

“These discussions are continuing in good faith.’’

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter / Picture: AP

PM’S CALL FOR MORE EUROPEAN INVOLVEMENT IN WAR ON TERROR

Daniel Meers

MALCOLM Turnbull has pleaded with European nations to lift their game in the fight against Islamic State and told Aussie troops he doesn’t want them in Iraq “forever”.

In his first visit to Iraq as Prime Minister at the weekend, Mr Turnbull addressed ecstatic Australian and New Zealand troops at Taji where they’re training Iraqi soldiers. He said the key to victory would be training Iraqi troops to be boots on the ground.

Mr Turnbull, who last month rejected a general request from the US to coalition nations for increased roles in the Middle East, said it was time for Europe to do more.

“We’re encouraging other countries, particularly other European countries, NATO countries, to step up and make a greater contribution to it,’’ Mr Turnbull said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets with troops during breakfast at Camp Baird in the Middle East ahead of his visit to Iraq / Picture: AAP

He played down the decision to reject a request from the US during a Q & A session with troops, saying: “It was literally a form letter sent in exactly the same terms sent to 40 Defence Ministers.”

Australia has about 300 troops training the Iraqi forces as well as six fighter jets and just under 100 SAS soldiers on the ground.

Mr Turnbull reiterated that Australian troops made up the second largest contingent in Iraq behind the US.

“What further commitments we were to make would depend on the circumstances. But we do not intend to be in Iraq forever,” he said.

Mr Turnbull received a warm reception from troops, posing for multiple selfies during his visit before he flew to Washington for meetings with President Barack Obama. The first of the selfie-seekers, Lieutenant Colonel Claire Baker, said it was important for troops to see the Prime Minister in the flesh.

“It’s great the Prime Minister comes here to tell us how proud he is, and the country is, of us,” she told the Daily Telegraph.

TURNBULL’S DECISION PROVES PUZZLING

Simon Benson COMMENT

MALCOLM Turnbull last week did what few Australian Prime Ministers have ever done and rejected a US request for military support.

That itself was enough to set the hares running in Washington. As Ambassador Kim Beazley is said to have told a meeting of Australian and US defence officials late last year, when the US asks, Australia says yes.

If Turnbull’s decision was a way of marking a point of difference between he and Tony Abbott, who was markedly more hawkish, then it was a bad decision.

The US-Australian alliance is too important to be toyed with for domestic political purposes. And it is this relationship that should be central to Turnbull’s first official US visit.

What makes the decision to snub the US request even more unusual than its timing is that Turnbull and his Defence Minister Marise Payne, could have easily said yes without having to actually do anything.

The original approval by the National Security Committee to commit forces to Iraq allowed for eight Super Hornets to be deployed. The US at the time said only six were needed considering the limited number of targets.

With a flick of a pen, Turnbull could have satisfied the optics of the US request, even if such a gesture would have made little difference until ground units could provide more targets for our planes to shoot at.

Concern at what motivated this decision has been overtaken by Turnbull’s call that the Iraqi army would be the force that eventually ­defeated terrorism.

This will be of interest to the Pentagon when Turnbull drops by tomorrow after meeting defence secretary Ash Carter who has essentially said IS can’t be defeated unless the Western alliance steps up and smashes the hell out of it.

The irony of the meeting Wednesday between Turnbull and Obama is that Turnbull may make Obama look like the hawkish one