US VP Joe Biden, Malcolm Turnbull bolster military ties

Amid growing concerns in the South China Sea, Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Biden pledge to step up joint military training.

Joe Biden visits Taronga Zoo in Sydney with his three granddaughters during his visit to Australia. Picture: Wolter Peeters

Amid growing concerns about Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, Malcolm Turnbull and US Vice-President Joe Biden have pledged to step up joint military training to deal with “any challenge” in the region.

Australia has also agreed to broaden its training commitment in Iraq, to instruct law enforcement officers in counter-terrorism techniques to help them retain areas recaptured from Islamic State and keep order there. Mr Biden said there would be a greater unity between US and Australian forces, stressing “it’s important that we stand together”.

“We also discussed steps Australia and the US are taking so our troops can train more together and increase our interoperability so that we are fully prepared to respond to any challenge — to any challenge — in the Pacific with a united front,” Mr Biden said after talks with Mr Turnbull in Sydney.

The Vice-President used his Australian visit, which concludes today with a speech hosted by Sydney University and the Lowy Institute, to reaffirm the US was a “Pacific power” and in the region to stay. Mr Biden said the US and Australia urged China and The Philippines to abide by the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on the South China Sea.

On Iraq, The Australian has been told Mr Turnbull and Mr Biden shared a strong view that as more areas were recovered from ISIS, it was crucial they should be stabilised. Law enforcement training will be carried out by Australian Defence Force instructors already in Iraq and will not require sending additional trainers. But the ADF has been authorised to send 15 extra troops to the training base at Taji, if they are needed to man a system built to warn against and shoot down incoming rockets and mortar bombs.

Mr Biden said Australia’s military instructors were the best in the world and had inspired Iraqi forces to recapture considerable territory more quickly than expected.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Biden agreed that Iraq’s law enforcement agencies — including federal and local police, emergency response units and border guard forces — would have a key role defending, holding and stabilising areas liberated from ISIS, known locally as Daesh.

They agreed that helping train those law agencies to hold and stabilise territory, help Iraq to take responsibility for its own security and protect citizens as they returning to their cities.

“At the moment our training mandate is restricted to training the Iraqi army and as we discussed, one of the most important objectives now in Iraq, is to ensure that the Iraqi police forces, their gendarmerie forces, are able to maintain the peace in areas that have been liberated from Daesh or ISIL as the Iraqi security forces and counter-terrorism forces progress,” Mr Turnbull said.

Australia has 300 regular army instructors at Taji training Iraqi Army personnel. A further 80 special forces troop provide advice and assistance to the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service.

A self-contained RAAF contingent of 400 air and ground crew is carrying out airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and giving the US-led coalition airborne command-and-control and refuelling capabilities.

In addition, Australia will increase the flexibility of its Building Partner Capacity-Training of Iraqi Forces mission in Taji to enable ADF instructors to conduct training at other secure locations, as need arises.

Mr Biden told the crew of HMAS Adelaide yesterday that Australia was a wonderful ally and US service personnel had huge respect for Australians they had fought with in many campaigns over the past century.

“They know the Aussies will always have their backs — and we will always have your back,” the Vice-President said.

On the flight deck of one of the RAN’s giant new landing ships in Sydney Harbour Mr Biden said American troops spoke of Aussie grit “and the fact you never, never leave anybody behind”. Mr Biden last night attended a dinner at Admiralty House hosted by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove after a visit to Taronga Zoo with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Earlier he had talks with Bill Shorten and deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek for an hour and 10 minutes, beyond the 45 minutes allocated.

“The US is our most important friend,” Mr Shorten said after the meeting.

“It was a real pleasure to sit down with the Vice-President. It’s clear he values Australia and the closeness of our alliance.”