Panetta Heads to Australia to Ramp Up Marine Presence
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Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrives in Australia today to discuss ways to increase the U.S. Marine Corps presence in the country as well as secure Air Force access to its bases, a senior U.S. defense official said.
The two countries are in the first phase of deploying 250 Marines to the northern port city of Darwin on six-month rotations with the goal of expanding to as many as 2,500 troops. Panetta will discuss with Defense Minister Stephen Smith how to increase Air Force access to bases in northern Australia and the arrangements necessary to achieve those goals, according to the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.