Australia’s defence minister says no to permanently basing U.S. subs down under, welcomes greater military presence

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles has welcomed greater U.S. military presence in the nation, but has ruled out the possibility of having a permanent home for American submarines.

Marles is in Washington, meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin.

Earlier, Marles made a visit to a nuclear submarine manufacturing yard in New England.

It follows speculation the Australian government may have been considering allowing some American subs to have a permanent home down under.

But the defence minister has ruled out this proposition.

He says while America’s naval presence in Australia has been growing, “home porting” takes it a step further. He says this is not a position the government wants to be in at this stage.

“The trajectory of the American presence in Australia has been growing … and that’s what we would anticipate,” Marles told The Herald Sun

It comes as the two nations seek to increase their defence relationship and enhance their forces.

It’s expected Australia will soon face a so-called “capability gap” after the current fleet of Collins-powered subs is retired. The country will then have to wait for the arrival of nuclear-powered vessels.

The defence minister’s visit to Washington comes ahead of the Albanese government’s first AUSMIN defence and foreign policy talks with American officials.

Additionally, Marles and his UK and U.S. counterparts will also hold their first AUKUS trilateral meeting.

Here, details about Australia’s path to acquire nuclear-powered submarines of its own are likely to be finalised, but they will be kept secret until next year.