A US build-up of military infrastructure at two bases in northern Australia was reported by Reuters in a material published on 26 July 2024. The bases in question are Darwin, where US Marines have been stationed for years, and the Tindal air base near the inland Australian town of Katherine, southeast from Darwin.
The infrastructure being constructed includes facilities “to support B-52 bombers, F-22 stealth fighters, and refuelling and transport aircraft,” as well as “intelligence briefing rooms, upgraded runways for bombers, warehouses, data centres and maintenance hangars” and “massive fuel storage facilities.”
The infrastructure is designed to help American efforts in the case of war with China, with the Australian air force director-general of capital facilities and infrastructure, Air Commodore Ron Tilley, stating: “I don’t believe the U.S. would be spending all this money on our northern bases if there wasn’t an arrangement in place where they could use those facilities they are funding in times of conflict.”
Efforts Category: US-Australia Military Cooperation
On 28 July 2024, US announced its plans to establish a joint force headquarters “with expanded missions and operational responsibilities” for the American forces in Japan. One of the purposes of this HQ upgrade is to deepen coordination with the Japanese armed forces. In parallel, Japan is going to establish a new joint command for its own forces by March 2025.
Efforts Category: US-Japan Military Cooperation
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