SARAH MARTIN
A GREATER US military presence in Australia will be a force for peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says.
Addressing the first contingent of US marines to arrive in Darwin at Robertson Barracks this morning, Mr Smith said the deployment began a new chapter in the Australian-American alliance.
"This is very much an historic day," he said.
"The ongoing presence of the United States in the Asia Pacific region and its enhanced presence in the Asia Pacific region in the course of this century will continue to be a force for peace, for security, for stability and for prosperity."
The 200-strong Fox Company of the US marines is the first of 2500 soldiers who will eventually be stationed in Darwin under a bilateral agreement struck by US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard last year.
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