Australia says more US troops to come, work on missile development after nuclear sub deal

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Australia was willing to see more US Marines in a decade-old rotation through the northern city of Darwin

Australian PM brushed aside China’s anger over the AUKUS defence alliance, saying Canberra is ‘very aware’ of Beijing’s nuclear submarine capabilities

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Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken address a news conference in Washington on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:56am, 17 Sep 2021Updated: 8:36pm, 17 Sep 2021

Australia said on Thursday that more US troops will rotate through the island nation and that the allies will cooperate on missile development, the latest joint steps amid shared concerns over a rising China.

Australia announced a three-way alliance with the United States and Britain in which Canberra will acquire nuclear-powered submarines, enraging France whose own major contract for conventional submarines was scrapped.

Outlining further measures on a visit to Washington, Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Australia will be “significantly enhancing” cooperation including working together on the development of missiles and explosive ordnance.

He said Australia was willing to see more US Marines in a decade-old rotation through the northern city of Darwin.

“I do have an aspiration to make sure that we can increase the numbers of troops through the rotations,” Dutton said.

“The air capability will be enhanced, our maritime capability enhanced and certainly the force posture enhanced.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier had said that Australia would acquire long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

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