The U.S. military plans to establish a prepositioned weapons depot in Australia

The U.S. military plans to build a permanent prepositioned weapons depot for its Marine Corps on the southeastern coast of Australia, located beyond the range of most Chinese missiles. Australian Defense Minister Marles said today that this move helps safeguard the nation's national security.

The prepositioned military equipment reserve that the U.S. military is planning will be the first-ever Marine Corps base established in Australia, reflecting America’s efforts to counter its strategic competitor’s military expansion.

Recent documents released by the U.S. Navy indicate further planning underway for a larger weapons stockpile in Australia, with $30 million allocated to construct warehouses, office buildings, and other facilities for "critical forward logistics supply."

The U.S. Marine Corps has been pre-positioning military supplies globally since the Cold War era—storing weapons, ammunition, and vehicles to sustain operations for thousands of troops.

The first land-based weapons depot in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to become operational this year in the Philippines, near potential flashpoints in the South China Sea.

A spokesperson for U.S. Marine Corps Pacific told AFP: "Marine Corps activities in Australia are designed to support operations and exercises across the Indo-Pacific by maintaining readily available equipment and supplies, thereby enabling integrated global logistics."

Australian Defense Minister Marles told reporters: "We see an increasing U.S. military presence in Australia, which is crucial not only for enhancing our own military capabilities but also for Australia’s national security."

Approximately 2,000 U.S. Marines conduct six-month-long exercises annually in Darwin, a northern Australian city.

Australia traditionally does not allow foreign military bases on its territory—a sensitive issue for a country allied with the United States and increasingly hosting rotating U.S. military units at its defense installations.

The U.S. Navy is hiring a global defense contractor to employ around 110 engineers, mechanics, materials specialists, and security experts to manage the weapons stockpile in Australia, including "crew-served weapons."

The spokesperson declined to comment on contract details or troop deployment plans, but emphasized that Marine Corps equipment remains in a "high state of readiness," with contract arrangements and facility operations closely coordinated with Australia’s Department of Defence.

A U.S. Marine Corps Pacific spokesperson stated: "These activities enhance response speed, strengthen interoperability with allies and partners, and support missions across the Indo-Pacific."

The Pentagon has requested $500 million in funding from Congress for next year to increase prepositioning of equipment and fuel in the Asia-Pacific region as a deterrent against China.

A report released this week by the Lowy Institute warned that China could deploy ballistic missiles from its South China Sea outposts to strike northern Australia.

Rogwen, the institute’s director of international security, told AFP this capability is likely a "relevant consideration" behind Australia’s decision to position missile reserves in the southeast.

The Australian Department of Defence told AFP it has developed a strategy aimed at maintaining "southern base infrastructure focused on force generation, logistics support, medical networks, and logistics nodes" to enable military power projection from northern Australia.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1868247488892042/

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