United States and Australia to enhance military cooperation for regional stability and security 1208

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Defence & Security News - United States / Australia

 
 
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 10:48 AM
 
United States and Australia to enhance military cooperation for regional stability and security.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister David Johnston held talks with their United States counterparts, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel on Monday ahead of the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on Tuesday, August 12, 2014.
     
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister David Johnston held talks with their United States counterparts, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel on Monday ahead of the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on Tuesday, August 12, 2014.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, left, and Australia's Defense Minister David Johnston enjoy a laugh when a journalist addresses Hagel as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2014.
     
The Sydney AUSMIN event will see the signing of the Force Posture Agreement, which sets out the legal framework for the presence of U.S. marines based in Darwin, and allows for the expansion of U.S. military in Australia over the next 25 years.

"AUSMIN is the principal forum for progressing bilateral cooperation on foreign, defence and strategic policy matters between Australia and the United States. It is an opportunity to reaffirm our alliance and the depth and breadth of our relationship," Bishop said in a statement.

Bishop said the leaders would discuss ways to further enhance their work together, particularly in support of regional stability and security, and continue to progress the implementation of U.S. force posture initiatives.

"Our discussions will explore opportunities to deepen our defence cooperation and interoperability between our two militaries," Bishop said.

This is the second AUSMIN with Kerry and Hagel, with the first meeting held in the United States last year in Washington.