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Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C Aquilino, visited Australia this week to demonstrate, unequivocally, the strength and depth of the Australia-United States Alliance and the nations’ shared interests in ensuring an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific.
In a joint statement, from General Angus J Campbell, AO, DSC, Chief of the Australian Defence Force and Admiral John C Aquilino, US Navy, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), expressed a committed outlook on the region’s stability.
This is evident in the expanded cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the United States Armed Forces.
Admiral Aquilino’s visit has been an opportunity to see, first-hand, Australian and United States forces working together both in Darwin and at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley.
The visit enabled INDOPACOM and Defence to take forward plans for enhanced air, maritime, land and logistics force posture cooperation over the course of the year, as per the outcomes of the 2021 Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).
The step-up in the nations’ collaboration and technology sharing across all domains – including cyber and space – is designed to strengthen the ability to operate as a combined force and to train and deploy with partners in the region to advance collective security and integrated deterrence.
Admiral Aquilino and senior Defence officials discussed the progress made under AUKUS – the enhanced trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as increasing bilateral joint interoperability and improving regional security awareness and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
During his time in Darwin, Admiral Aquilino also visited US Marines participating in the 11th annual rotation of the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, alongside their Australian counterparts from the Army's 1st Brigade. This will be the first year that MRF-D will be augmented by US Army enablers, raising the level of training and exercises to an even higher level and ensuring US and Australian forces maintain the highest level of readiness to ensure security in the region.
Through the Enhanced Force Posture Initiatives, the joint exercises and training activities continue to increase in sophistication, enhancing the interoperability of the Australian and US military forces. This includes the complex integrated training between the US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber and Royal Australian Air Force fighter aircraft.
In Canberra, Admiral Aquilino visited the Australian War Memorial, laying a wreath in honour of Australian and American service personnel who served and died for their country.
Now in its 71st year, the Australia-United States Alliance remains a critical partnership to contribute to the rules-based international order and the maintenance of peace and prosperity in the region.
[Related: Defence procurement rules revised to boost SME access]
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