US to extend Darwin marine base as Tony Abbott meets Barack Obama to push G20 agenda

MORE American troops, aircraft and ships will operate from Australian bases under a new deal with Washington.

Tony Abbott meets US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of The White House this morning. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

AUSTRALIA has struck a defence agreement with the United States that prepares the ground for more American troops, aircraft and ships to operate from Australian bases to ward off threats in South East Asia.

The outcome will give the two countries the capacity for “additional reach” into the region as a result of talks in Washington overnight between Tony Abbott and US President Barack Obama.

“Aussies know how to fight and I like having them in a foxhole if we’re in trouble,” Mr Obama declared at the end of a meeting with Mr Abbott.

While it is up to the US to propose specific military cooperation, the agreement means Australia is open to hosting more US Marines in Darwin over time and may also consider the use of a Western Australian naval base as a port for US destroyers.

Mr Obama held talks with Mr Abbott in the White House overnight on security, trade, the Group of 20 agenda for economic growth and tensions in Europe over Russia’s incursions into Ukraine.

The military ties dominated the discussions as the two leaders approved a legal agreement that formalises the deployment of around 1,300 US Marines to the Northern Territory first announced by Mr Obama and Julia Gillard in November 2011.

“We discussed the security cooperation that is continuing to deepen between our two nations as treaty allies,” Mr Obama said in brief remarks to the press after the bilateral meeting.

“In addition to the marines that are now in Darwin and the rotations that have been established, we actually have arrived at additional agreements around force postures that will enhance the bilateral cooperation between our militaries and give us additional reach throughout this very important part of the world, and we’re grateful for the cooperation there.”

IRAQ: PM refuses to rule out military help

One option for closer cooperation is to base more US Navy destroyers and other vessels at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, giving the US the capacity to project force further into the region.

The legally-binding agreement, approved in principle but yet to be concluded by officials, sets out the responsibilities of each jurisdiction for the US personnel based on Australian soil.

With the agreement largely finished, it would be up to the US to talk to Australia again about sending more US forces to Australia in a way that builds on the “pivot” to Asia that Mr Obama announced three years ago.

After the meeting, Mr Abbott said the agreement to rotate 2500 US marines through Darwin would build “confidence and trust” among regional powers.

“This gives us the opportunity not just for Australian and US forces to train together in our north, but for our regional partners to train together with the United States,” Mr Abbott told ABC Radio after meeting with Mr Obama.

“Indeed later this year there will be two exercises involving Australian, US and Chinese troops, and this is going to be a very important confidence and trust building measure for our region.”

Mr Abbott said the United States, since the end of the Vietnam War, had “been a very, very important element in the stability and prosperity of our region and I want that to continue.”

The President praised Australia for increasing its defence spending at a time of budget restraint and said his preference was to partner with other countries to ensure stability in regions like Asia.

“That’s part of where Australia is so important to us,” he said, speaking to the press in the Oval Office as he sat with Mr Abbott.

“There are a handful of countries in the world that we always know we can count on. Not just because they share our values, but we know we can count on them because we know they’ve got real capacity. Australia’s one of those countries.

“We share foundational values about liberal democracies and human rights and a world view that’s governed by international law and norms.

“And Aussies know how to fight and I like having them in a foxhole if we’re in trouble. So I can’t think of a better partner.”

The comments came amid heightened concern over terror attacks in Iraq, prompting the President to warn that “all options” were on the table in terms of the US response.

Mr Abbott declared Australian support for the US at the end of the meeting.

“I want to assure the President that Australia will be an utterly dependable ally of the United States,” Mr Abbott said.

“The United States has to bear many burdens, many burdens.

“The United States has paid a very high price to secure freedom and prosperity for many countries, not just itself, and the United States should never have to do all that work on its own.”