SYDNEY (Dispatches) -- The U.S. has stationed its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers at the Australian Air Force’s Amberley Airbase as part of its campaign to confront China.
The two stealth bombers would participate in training and exercises with allies, the U.S. Air Force stated.
They were deployed as a part of a rotating Bomber Task Force to support the Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC) initiative under the Force Posture Agreement between the United States and Australia, it said.
The EAC initiative was launched in February 2017 to expand on a wide range of ongoing air exercises and training activities between the two countries. Its goal is to enhance advanced air-to-air integration between Australian Defense Force and U.S. air elements to allow for seamless cooperation between the two nations.
“This deployment of the B-2 to Australia demonstrates and enhances the readiness and lethality of our long-range penetrating strike force,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Kousgaard, 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander.
The Australian Ministry of Defense said that the B-2 Spirit aircraft would be supported by several Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. It will enable the visiting bomber aircraft to refuel while integrating with the Royal Australian Air Force to carry out various training exercises and activities.
The bombers’ arrival in Australia coincided with the start of the joint exercise Koolendong, which U.S. Marines are conducting with Australian forces.
The Indo-Pacific region has become increasingly significant in recent years, and both nations have been working together to counter China.
Early in 2022, it was revealed that a large U.S. oil storage facility was being built in Australia’s Northern Territory to assist military operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The $270 million plan will establish northern Australia’s largest
purpose-built gasoline storage facility, with a 300 million liters capacity.
The U.S. dispatched more fighter jets, including F-22 Raptors and F-35s, to Australia last November to fend off what they characterized as potential Chinese military aggression.
On Tuesday, the U.S. announced a major step-up in its engagement with the Pacific region, including the establishment of new embassies in Kiribati and Tonga, in moves that will be seen as attempts to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
The U.S. vice-president, Kamala Harris, made the announcement as Pacific leaders gathered in Suva, Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum, the most significant regional meeting.
Harris attended the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting virtually to speak to leaders at the invitation of the forum chair and Fijian prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, in what is being seen as a coup for the U.S. against China, which is also working to bring the regional countries into its orbit.
“This milestone reflects the United States’ robust and growing commitment to the Pacific Islands region. It builds on five decades of close cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum, including as a founding dialogue partner,” a U.S. statement said.
Dr Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in geopolitics and security studies at Massey University in New Zealand, said the announcement contained a number of “firsts”, such as the first U.S. envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum and the first U.S. national strategy on the Pacific Islands, and was an attempt by Washington to position itself as the Pacific’s partner of choice.