Updated 14.45 Thursday 6 October
Katherine Ziesing & Patrick Durrant | Canberra & Sydney
Minister for Defence Marise Payne and US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter have welcomed the in-principle conclusion of cost-sharing negotiations for the Force Posture Initiatives today in Washington DC.
“This marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Force Posture Initiatives, and ensures that our approach to cost-sharing is well-considered and sustainable,” Minister Payne said.
Australia and the US will share the costs for more than $2 billion in infrastructure investment in northern Australia as well as the ongoing costs of the initiative over the full 25 year life of the agreement.
"[This] ensures that our approach to cost-sharing is well-considered and sustainable."
The Force Posture Initiatives in northern Australia are being implemented under the Force Posture Agreement signed at the 2014 Australia-US Ministerial Meeting. The initiatives seek to expand cooperation, increase opportunities for combined training and exercises and deepen the interoperability of our armed forces. The initiatives also provide opportunities for broader collaboration between Australia, the US and our partners in the Indo-Pacific.
“The Force Posture Initiatives are consistent with Australia’s long-standing strategic interests in supporting US engagement in our region in a manner that promotes regional security and stability," Minister Payne said.
Under the Force Posture Agreement, Australia and the US will continue to work towards having a US Marine Air-Ground Task Force of up to 2,500 personnel and equipment rotating through Australia and enhancing our aircraft cooperation.
Minister Payne said at a press briefing held in Washington that the cost sharing arrangement is "sustainable and ... based on proportionate use".
"So those things which are for the use of the United States are paid for by them, those things which are shared are paid for by Defence."
The Minister explained that part of the infrastructure costs will be dedicated to airfields, airfield aprons, accommodation including mess halls and gyms.
"They will remain [after the troop rotations] but they will be in large part paid for by the United States," Minister Payne said.
ADM Comment: It’s good to see some of the finer detail about how Australia and the US will share costs under the FPI. Anecdotally, when the US Marines first arrived in Australia with an open chequebook to get things started in Darwin, in terms of basic accommodation, there was little help from Defence in Australia. Industry picked up the ball and ran with it.
ADM suspects that the various training ranges in the NT in particular will receive special attention under the new arrangements.
This article first appeared in the ADM Defence Week Premium 417 newsletter dated 6th October.