April 4, 2012
Judith Ireland
Reporter and sketch writer
The Sydney Morning Herald
US Marines arrive in Darwin
The first contingent of US Marines to travel to Australia under the new Australian-US Defence cooperation touch down at the RAAF Base Darwin: RAW VISION.
The first rotation of United States marines has touched down in Australia to begin six months of training in the Northern Territory, cementing Australia's enhanced defence co-operation with the US.
But Defence Minister Stephen Smith says their arrival overnight does not amount to a US base on Australian soil.
About 200 marines were greeted by Mr Smith and US Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich in Darwin, following the announcement of new defence alliance measures during US President Barack Obama's visit to Australia last November.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US President Barack Obama meet Australian defence personnel during his visit to Australia last year. Photo: AP
Over the next five to six years, the total number of marines in the Northern Territory will grow to 2500. They will be deployed on six-month rotations.
The marine group will include command, ground, aviation and logistics elements as well as equipment such as artillery, aircraft and light armoured vehicles.
This morning Mr Smith said that the marines and their entourage did not amount to a US military base on Australian soil.
''We don't have United States military bases in Australia and we're not proposing too,'' he told ABC radio from Darwin.
Mr Smith said the US marine presence was ''qualitatively different'' from a base. US marines were being given access to Australian facilities, as opposed to a permanent presence, he said.
Mr Smith also said that the increased US presence in Australia - which will also include access to Australia's air and naval bases - was a good thing, as the world's strategic focus shifted to the Asia Pacific.
Last week the government moved to distance itself from reports that US military aircraft — including unmanned drones — could be based on Australia's Cocos Islands.
The Washington Post reported that the US was looking at the Cocos Islands as ''an ideal site not only for manned US surveillance aircraft but for Global Hawks, an unarmed, high altitude surveillance drone''.
Mr Smith has described the plan as a ''long-term prospect'' and said priorities were the rotation of US marines through the Northern Territory, and greater US access to Australian air and naval bases.
''There's nothing [about Cocos] that's come or been discussed or decided at my level,'' he told the ABC's 7.30 program last week.
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/us-marines-not-a-us-base-on-australian-soil-smith-20120404-1wbnl.html#ixzz1r7kq07Xp
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