The USS Minnesota, a Virginia class attack submarine, is conducting training off Western Australia ahead of a significant U.S. naval expansion under the AUKUS pact. From 2027, four Virginia class submarines will be based at HMAS Stirling as part of the deal to transfer nuclear submarine capabilities
The U.S. submarine rotation will begin with 50-80 navy personnel arriving at HMAS Stirling this year, increasing to hundreds within two years. The base is undergoing an A$8 billion ($5 billion) upgrade to accommodate the Submarine Rotational Force West.
The strategic location of Western Australia, closer to Asia and the Indian Ocean than the U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters in Hawaii, enhances the Indo-Pacific defence posture, experts say. Peter Dean, director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the University of Sydney, noted the deployment is key to countering China’s naval presence in the region.
The Virginia class submarine program has been exempted from U.S. budget cuts, with the Trump administration prioritising Indo-Pacific defence. Former Pentagon official Elbridge Colby recently told the U.S. Senate that attack submarines are "absolutely essential" for Taiwan’s defence, stressing the need to ramp up production.
The USS Minnesota moved its home port from Hawaii to Guam in November, reinforcing the U.S. forward-deployed presence. The shift follows increased Chinese naval activity, including a Chinese task force circumnavigating Australia in February and March while holding live-fire drills.
Under AUKUS, Australia will purchase two used Virginia class submarines next decade and co-develop a new nuclear-powered submarine with Britain, replacing its ageing diesel fleet. Currently, 115 Australian personnel are training on U.S. submarines, with 130 more in nuclear maintenance training in Hawaii.
Kurds in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli voiced caution on Monday (19 January) after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to...
The death toll from Sunday's collision between a derailing high-speed train and a second oncoming train in southern Spain has risen to 40, dozens more...
Portugal’s far-right leader André Ventura is using the presidential race to consolidate political power rather than to secure the office itself, ac...
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday (19 January) that the government will use special constitutional powers to force the passage o...
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed developments in Syria during a phone call on Monday, including Kurdish righ...
Kurds in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli voiced caution on Monday (19 January) after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to withdraw from large areas under a ceasefire deal with Damascus.
Portugal’s far-right leader André Ventura is using the presidential race to consolidate political power rather than to secure the office itself, according to a senior political analyst, who says the real objective lies in strengthening his position ahead of future parliamentary elections.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday (19 January) that the government will use special constitutional powers to force the passage of the 2026 budget without a parliamentary vote, despite earlier pledges to avoid doing so.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed developments in Syria during a phone call on Monday, including Kurdish rights and cooperation against Islamic State, the Syrian presidency said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died at the age of 93, his foundation said on Monday.
European leaders voiced growing alarm on Sunday over U.S. threats to impose tariffs on eight NATO allies, warning the move could destabilize transatlantic relations and heighten tensions in the Arctic.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights, as government forces advanced against U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters despite U.S. calls for restraint.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 in western Michigan on Monday (19 January), forcing the highway to shut in both directions amid severe winter weather.
U.S. President Donald Trump has linked his push to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, as tensions with Europe escalate and the European Union considers retaliatory measures that could reignite a transatlantic trade war.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to become a founding member of the U.S.-led Board of Peace, while France has declined to take part, citing concerns over the body’s mandate.
The death toll from Sunday's collision between a derailing high-speed train and a second oncoming train in southern Spain has risen to 40, dozens more injured.
Portugal’s far-right leader André Ventura is using the presidential race to consolidate political power rather than to secure the office itself, according to a senior political analyst, who says the real objective lies in strengthening his position ahead of future parliamentary elections.
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