TONY ABBOT AND BARACK OBAMA STRIKE DEAL TO LET THE US BUILD MILITARY FACILITIES IN AUSTRALIA

June 14, 2014 Abbott signs military deal with Obama 

Tony Abbott and Barack Obama have signed a military deal and discussed options for the crisis in Iraq.

THE United States will be able to build permanent military facilities on Australian soil and expand to locations across the country under a deal struck between Tony Abbott and Barack Obama. 

The deal — which initially covers up to 2500 US forces rotating through Darwin but can be expanded — will allow the US to bring warships, planes and troops in Australia.

New bases can be set up across the country and the number of troops increased without limit over 25 years under the deal, senior US officials confirmed.

Tony Abbott told News Corp Australia that he wanted to increase ties with the US military and have greater involvement in peace keeping missions.

He would not rule out sending troops into combat if needed but hoped this would not be required.

The deal, in Mr Abbott’s first formal meeting with Mr Obama in the White House, came amid a rapidly escalating crisis in Iraq with an insurgency by al-Qaeda linked radicals.

The US President warned he was considering a new short term military intervention, including possible drone strikes, to crush the insurgents in Iraq.

“I don’t rule out anything, because we do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in either Iraq or Syria, for that matter,” Mr Obama said.

While the President did not make a direct appeal for additional military assistance from Australia, he praised our troops’ fighting ability.

“Aussies know how to fight, and I like having them in a foxhole if we’re in trouble,” Mr Obama said.

 

Strong allies ... Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott meets with President Obama in the Oval Office of The White House. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia

 

Speaking in the Oval Office of the White House, Mr Abbott praised the US’ role in securing freedom across the world and said the country needed more help from allies like Australia.

“The United States has paid a very high price to secure freedom and prosperity for many countries, not just itself,” he said.

“And the United States should never have to do all that work on its own.”

Mr Abbott later told News Corp he meant Australia was prepared to help the US with “peacekeeping” and”peacemaking” roles around the world.

The PM would not rule out providing military assistance to the US in the event of new conflicts but told News Corp “there are limits to what we can do”.

He said there was a “not negligible” risk of conflict in the Asia-Pacific region and hoped the increased US presence would help lessen that risk.

The deal could see increased cooperation between the US and Australian defence forces on maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Mr Abbott said the deal “has the potential” to see US troops based in locations other than Darwin.

Taking questions ... President Barack Obama during his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais Source: AP

In talks ... Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks with President Barack Obama on a number of topics. Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais Source: AP

 

He said so far there had been no request from the US to use any other location.

“If a request comes, we’ve got a base on which the logistics can be handled,” Mr Abbott said.

A senior US official confirmed there were plans to expand their presence in Australia in the future.

He said the US would cover the costs of building facilities for their own use.

“Where the facilities are essentially available for Australian forces they will largely be funded by us,” he said.

“Where they are pretty much exclusively used by American forces they will largely be funded by the Americans.”

US Marines based in Darwin are already planning joint training operations with Australian and Chinese troops later this year in what Mr Abbott hopes will be a trust building exercise.

But he urged the US to become more involved in Australia’s neighbourhood.

“I think it’s good that America is more involved in our region,” he said.

“I think our region wants America to be more involved because America has been a force for peace and stability in our region.”

Productive talks ... Tony Abbott meets with President Obama in the Oval Office of The White House. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia

 

Mr Obama said Australia was one the closest allies that the US could rely on.

“There are a handful of countries in the world that we always know we can count on, not just because they share our values, but we know we can count on them because they’ve got real capacity,” he said.

“Australia is one of those countries. We share foundational values about liberal democracies and human rights, and a world view that’s governed by international law and norms.”

During about a more than hour long meeting in the Oval Office, Mr Obama and Mr Abbott discussed concerns about disputes in the South China Sea, North Korea and Ukraine.

influential circles ... Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and US Secretary of State John Kerry shake hands after speaking to the press and before they held private meeting at the US Department of State in Washington, DC. Picture: Paul J. Richards Source: AFP

 

Both leaders welcomed China’s rise as a world power but said it needed to ensure it abided by the rule of law.

Mr Obama thanked Mr Abbott for raising concerns about Russia’s military activities in Ukraine but said he hoped that dispute could be resolved through diplomacy.

The talks ranged across trade and the global economy, which will continue when the pair meet again at the G20 in Brisbane.

Mr Abbott strongly endorsed Mr Obama’s push for a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that will increase free trade between several countries in our region.

http://www.news.com.au/national/tony-abbott-and-barack-obama-strike-deal-to-let-the-us-build-military-facilities-in-australia/story-fncynjr2-1226953729212