• They will join a rotational force of more than 200 US Marines by September
• Comes after Australia signed historic AUKUS pact with America and Britain
• Beijing has fumed at the new alliance, with state media warning of nukes
Thousands of American soldiers trained to use surface-to-air missile systems, High Mobility Artillery Rockets and unmanned aircraft are bound for Australia as tensions grow with China.
The rotational US Marine force of about 2200 servicemen and women will be based in the Northern Territory during the upcoming dry season from September.
It is the 11th deployment to the Top End and for the first time will include 250 US Army personnel, the Australian Defence Force announced.
The contingent is part of an ongoing US initiative in the Indo-Pacific region to prepare for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan in coming years.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton in September warned conflict with China 'shouldn't be discounted' and on Wednesday told the US Studies Centre Beijing may look to annex Taiwan while the world is preoccupied with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The marine deployment will complement that Enhanced Air Co-operation program between the Royal Australian Air Force and United States Air Force.
About 1000 Marines have already landed in Darwin.
They will train with the ADF to ensure they are able to respond to crises in the region.
That could include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, evacuation missions, and reinforcing US embassies or military operations.
Darwin's location just south of more than a dozen Asian countries and some of the world's busiest shipping lanes makes it a strategic stepping-off point.
The training will include live-fire military exercises to improve cohesion between Australian and US forces and those of other regional allies.
Commander of the ADF's northern force Colonel Marcus Constable said the US alliance was Australia's most important defence relationship and central to the nation's security plan.
'Together we conduct a comprehensive range of training activities including humanitarian assistance, security operations and high-end live fire exercises.'
Colonel Christopher Steele, the US Marine Corps commander in Darwin, said the Marines from southern California were excited to contribute to regional security.
The Marines are expected to complete the rotation in October.
The announcement comes as Mr Dutton warned 'credible military force' would be used, if necessary, to deter the spread of authoritarianism in the Indo-Pacific.
In an address to the United States Studies Centre, Mr Dutton warned of 'ominous signs' stemming from a Chinese-Russian alliance, saying Australia and the US would step up to shape the Indo-Pacific around mutual interests.
'Australia and the United States are in lock-step in our commitment to regional stability,' he told the forum.
(...) Daily Mail
