US alliance talks as Australia locks in defence forum
Senior ministers are heading to the US for key talks with their counterparts after the Pentagon’s long-awaited review approved the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong flew to Washington DC on Monday to meet US secretaries Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio for the annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations.
Mr Marles, who also serves as defense minister, stopped by Tokyo on Sunday where he announced an annual defense meeting between Australia and Japan.
“This will include meeting with representatives of our defense forces’ departments and our intelligence committees,” he told reporters in Japan.
“Japan is our reliable and indispensable partner, and this is about deepening the crucial defense relationship.”
Mr Marles said the talks would cover how both countries’ defense establishments could work together in areas such as cyber and space to maintain a “free and open Indo-Pacific space”.
The Pentagon presented its five-month review to the Albanian government last week. It was not made public.
Mr Marles and Senator Wong noted the strength of the alliance between Australia and the US, describing it as “fundamental to our national security”.
“AUSMIN is an invaluable forum for setting the strategic direction of the alliance, including defense and security,” Mr. Marles said in a statement. he said.
“I look forward to advancing our strong defense partnership, including AUKUS and our long-standing U.S. Force Posture Initiatives in Australia.”
Senator Wong said the US was Australia’s “main ally and strategic partner”.
The $368 billion AUKUS defense deal to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines has been approved by the Pentagon’s review.
“The report correctly identified that there are critical deadlines within which all three countries must meet,” US Congressman Joe Courtney, who co-chairs the Friends of Australia Group, said last week. he said.
“Therefore, maintaining disciplined adherence to the program is crucial.”
This year’s AUSMIN meeting will celebrate 40 years of consultations between Australian and US ministers of defense and foreign affairs.
