David Wroe
DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith has flagged in the clearest terms yet that Australia will deepen its long-term involvement in the United States' strategic "pivot" to Asia by boosting the role of the naval base at Perth in the build-up of American forces in the region.
Ahead of the high-level AUSMIN talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in the West Australian capital on Wednesday, Mr Smith said Perth's HMAS Stirling would inevitably rise in prominence as the Indian Ocean gained strategic importance.
"I've been an advocate and an arguer of the point of view that India is on the rise, the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean is on the rise," Mr Smith said. "The enhanced importance of Stirling and its utility is to me something that will occur as sure as night follows day."
He stressed it would take "years, rather than weeks or months". While HMAS Stirling has previously been floated as a possible site for a greater US naval presence - including even an aircraft carrier - the strength of Mr Smith's remarks signify that Australia will play a long-term and expanding role in the pivot.
Read the full story at WAtoday