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By Prashanth Parameswaran
Washington is eying ways to expand its military presence there.
The United States is mulling a plan to regularly dock warships in Australia, the navy’s top commander said yesterday according to The Wall Street Journal.
During a visit to Australia to inspect port facilities, U.S. Chief of Navy Operations Jonathan Greenert said that basing U.S. ships there was one of several measures being considered by Washington as part of a broader look into how to expand maritime cooperation between the two allies.
“We’re doing a study…to see what might be feasible for naval cooperation in and around Australia, which might include basing ships,” The Journal quoted Greenert as saying at a university lecture.
According to The Journal, Greenert revealed that the United States had been looking at various bases and ports and has identified warships to form an Amphibious Ready Group to support a Marine Air Ground Task Force, including a large amphibious assault carrier and two smaller helicopter carriers. Their regular presence could require the expansion of existing port facilities.
Read the full story at The Diplomat