Placing of US Troops in Australia may be the Signal of a new Global Strategic Military Deployment

President Obama visiting US troops in Australia

The US President Obama had announced to place 250 marines in the northern city of Darwin in Australia. This number will gradually grow to 2500 troops. The main purpose of this move is to check the growing influence of China in this region which according to economists accounts for about half of the global economic activity. A trade amounting to $ 5 trillion takes place in this region that includes $ 1.2 trillion belonging to the US.

The military cooperation between the US and Australia is already in place. Both the countries operate two military bases with mutual consent. Both the facilities are meant for surveillance and naval communication. In June 2011 a survey was conducted in Australia where 55 % of the people gave their opinion in favor of a military presence by US troops on their soil. However some dissenting views in Australia cannot be overlooked. China is the biggest trading partner of Australia for about four years which is benefiting the Australian economy. A large number of people will not view China as their adversary in such circumstances.

The American think tank is of the view that after being freed from Iraqi commitment they can now ‘invest’ their military forces elsewhere to obtain more advantages for the US. America already has her forces in Japan numbering 40,000 and in South Korea numbering 28,000. If they now shift some of their forces towards south in Australia it will not disturb the strategic balance to a great extent. The military presence of the US in Australia is small to begin with but will provide a basis for an enhanced cooperation in the fields of piracy, natural disasters, terrorism and maritime security. This military presence will also enhance the perception that the US now considers Indian Ocean, in addition to Pacific Ocean, as their area of interest and influence.