Arabic version: وصف الوجود الأميركي في «إتش إم إيه إس ستيرلينغ» بأنه دائم

According to ABC News, the planned US submarine presence at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia has been described by Defence Minister Richard Marles as an “enduring feature” of America’s force posture in Australia, following confusion over comments by Industry Minister Pat Conroy.

The Submarine Rotational Force-West arrangement is expected to see up to four US Virginia-class submarines operate from HMAS Stirling next year. About 1,000 US military personnel are moving to the base as part of the AUKUS deployment, with officials having negotiated quarantine arrangements for submariners’ dogs, Australian Submarine Agency chief Jonathan Mead said last September.

Conroy had told The Australian that the arrangement would begin “fading away” as Australia started operating its own nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s. He said the United States was likely to retain a submarine presence in Australia, though that would be a matter for future governments. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said Conroy had effectively issued the US Navy an eviction notice before personnel had arrived.

Marles later said the rotational force was intended to endure, while Conroy posted a statement on X agreeing that the American presence at Stirling would be “enduring”. The government maintains the deployment is not a permanent US base, but former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo said: “When they bring their families and pets, it’s a base.”

The US Navy has re-established Submarine Squadron 3, to be headquartered at HMAS Stirling after previously operating from Pearl Harbor and being decommissioned in 2012. Vice-Admiral Rob Gaucher said the facility’s purpose was “keeping those boats fit to fight”, while Rear Admiral Chris Cavanaugh said an additional forward-positioned squadron in the Indo-Pacific would improve presence, agility and responsiveness.