The United States' growing military footprint in Australia explained | 7.30

ABC News In-depth takes you deeper on the big stories, with long-form journalism from Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent, Australian Story, Planet America and more, and explainers from ABC News Video Lab.

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[Kingsland]

The same people who complain that Australia is increasing defence spending are the ones complaining that the US are basing in Australia, are we building our sovereign capability to defend ourselves or using another nation to do it? You can’t complain to both.

[mappv]

When are we getting a federal corruption body.

[chengavitch]

Australia has a tradition to send her boys to fight for other countries instead of establishing an independent foreign policy suitable for its own national interest.

[gedw]

the only way Oz can make its own hardware will be too sell it to third parties.

[htopherollem]

love the Pat Conroy quote calling for an Australian military industrial complex. It's worked out so well for America

[wdp]

" all these to deter potential aggressors" so he said. This potential aggressor happened to be Australia biggest trade partner, giving this kangaroo government massive trade surplus.
Are you thinking straight??

[paulfri]

Lots of CCP bots commenting here 😂😂😂 You can sense the fear in them.. Australia has the right to defend it's self with anything that will be a deterrence to a future enemy foe..

[corvanphoenix]

I'm looking forward to more local basing of US forces & closer operation with & integration into US operations.

[alexlanning]

For those that werent around in the 1930's& q1940's, the US saved our arses in an uncertain world

[christane]

We need to strengthen the Anglosphere … any one who thinks that we can go it alone and war isn’t a constant threat hasn’t opened a history book.

[nergispaul]

Right. AUS must defend itself against its most important trade partner (by many multiples). A partner with which it has record trade surpluses. Sure. That's logical.

[basilbrush]

Australia is an American colony and protectorate the world is aware of this and Australians are very happy about it

[modonohue]

These people live and die by the word 'interoperability', which is just a technical way of saying the the Australian military is being/has been transformed into little more than an operational extension of the US military. It effectively means that our entire thinking about defense is to do whatever US generals or admirals tell us to do.

[andrewcliffe]

Our leaders have totally destroyed all Australian military capability and will be punished by being given a well paid cushy job overseas

[husseinnaji]

Not a good decision Australia.. Australia should be sovereign country with no foreign force on its land. Australias are strong enough and have the numbers to defend themselves from any outside aggression.

[defectiveclone]

Australia also has (designed and made here) jet fighter like MQ-28 Ghost bat drones that are so advanced and impressive they are looking to be the loyal wingman of choice winning the contract for the US next gen figher program to be the drone support to the American NGAD jets.. at the moment two options one from LM and the other from Bowing.

[reneperin]

simply put our government knows it can't afford these nuclear subs, so rather than buy/make them we will simply just let the UK/US navy park their subs here and our troops can go on them with their crews, as has always been the plan

[voulathomacos-lagonas]

What about PINE
No mention what's there????

[naseernasrat]

I'm not in favour of foreign troops on Australian soil. We should be able to defend ourselves without having to partner with a loose cannon that is the United States.
As the old saying goes; "if you sit with dogs, you'll get up with flees".

Have we already forgotten how we got dragged into wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Do we want to get dragged into Taiwan or wherever else the US decide to invade?

[whatsbehindthestars]

Please make similar investments in bush fire fighting air craft.