“Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles met US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington on Wednesday (US time), after which the Pentagon announced both leaders had ‘agreed to accelerate force posture initiatives at Australian bases’, among other things.”
“That is on top of the rotation of US nuclear-powered submarines through HMAS Stirling near Perth from next year under the AUKUS agreement, which will see as many as 2300 American troops deployed there.”
“Marles confirmed US force posture in Australia was discussed at the meeting, but would not provide details. Announcements would be made at an Australia-US ministerial (AUSMIN) meeting later this year, he said.”
“During a whirlwind visit to Washington, the deputy prime minister also met his US counterpart, Vice President JD Vance, at the White House, and President Donald Trump’s deputy chief-of-staff Stephen Miller. He now heads to the United Kingdom for further meetings about the AUKUS pact.”