US vice president Joe Biden visits HMAS Adelaide at Garden Island

The United States is a Pacific power and it’s in the region to stay, Vice President Joe Biden tells ADF personnel.

US Vice-President Joe Biden addresses ADF personnel on board HMAS Adelaide at Sydney’s Garden Island.

The United States is a Pacific power and it’s in the region to stay, Vice President Joe Biden declared in Sydney today.

Mr Biden told the crew of the Australian warship, HMAS Adelaide, that Australia was a wonderful ally and US service personnel had huge respect for the 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,’’ he said.

On the flight deck of one of the Royal Australian Navy’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.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” the Vice President told the ADF contingent.

At 28,000 tonnes, the LHD, or Landing Helicopter Dock, HMAS Adelaide, and its sister ship, HMAS Canberra, are the biggest vessels ever operated by Australia’s navy, bigger even than its past aircraft carriers.

Mr Biden said the “incredible” ship was evidence of the critical increase Australia was making in its defence capability. With 12 new submarines and 72 Joint Strike Fighters, Australia would maintain a cutting edge military.

Mr Biden is due to meet Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull later today.

Joe Biden at Garden Island today.

HMAS Canberra, the Navy’s flagship, is off Hawaii taking part in the massive RIMPAC naval exercise where it has just disembarked a contingent of US marines.

The two ships can each carry over 1000 fully equipped troops and are among the world’s most capable and sophisticated systems for delivering power from the sea,

It is intended that the ships will work closely with US forces, including the Marine Rotational Force stationed at Darwin.

Vice President Biden toured the ship with ADF chief Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, Rear Admiral Michael Noonan, Deputy Chief of Navy; and Adelaide’s commanding office, Captain Paul Mandziy.