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.
Venezuela is facing mounting diplomatic and economic isolation as regional governments, airlines and international bodies react to escalating tensions...
Pope Leo XIV visited Martyrs’ Square in Beirut on Monday, the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon, where he met with Christian and interr...
Rhetoric surrounding Russia’s war against Ukraine is once again shifting toward talk of a possible “diplomatic solution.”...
The United States government announced Monday that it will exempt pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and medical‑technology products origi...
A Russian missile strike on the eastern-central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Monday killed at least four people and wounded 40 others, officials said....
Venezuela is facing mounting diplomatic and economic isolation as regional governments, airlines and international bodies react to escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington.
Rhetoric surrounding Russia’s war against Ukraine is once again shifting toward talk of a possible “diplomatic solution.”
Cyclone-induced landslides and floods cut off roads across western Indonesia on Monday as improved weather revealed the growing scale of a disaster that has killed nearly 800 people across Southeast Asia.
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen agricultural cooperation as Afghan officials seek to expand export routes and support struggling farmers across the country.
Moscow and Kyiv painted very different pictures of the battlefield on Sunday, each insisting momentum was on their side as the fighting around Pokrovsk intensified.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but did not provide details on what the two leaders discussed.
Venezuela's government condemned Trump's comments in a statement posted on Saturday afternoon (November 29), describing them as a "colonialist threat" against the country's sovereignty and incompatible with international law.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials held what both sides called productive talks on Sunday about a Russia peace deal, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing optimism about progress despite challenges.
Palestinian group Hamas continues its patient approach to maintain it despite provocations, says Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed critical issues surrounding Ukraine’s ongoing conflict, the role of American mediation, and European involvement during a press conference on Monday, reaffirming France’s commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and ensuring peace in the region.
Venezuela is facing mounting diplomatic and economic isolation as regional governments, airlines and international bodies react to escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington.
Pope Leo XIV visited Martyrs’ Square in Beirut on Monday, the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon, where he met with Christian and interreligious leaders to promote dialogue and unity among different faiths.
Rhetoric surrounding Russia’s war against Ukraine is once again shifting toward talk of a possible “diplomatic solution.”
The United States government announced Monday that it will exempt pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and medical‑technology products originating from the United Kingdom from current and future U.S. tariffs as part of a newly negotiated trade agreement in principle.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment