US Military to Build War-Ready Stockpile in Australia

The US military is set to establish a permanent war-ready weapons stockpile for its Marine Corps on Australia's southeast coast, a move designed to counter China's growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific. Tender documents reveal that this will be the first land-based stockpile for the Marine Corps in Australia, leveraging the continent's strategic location.

Advanced planning indicates that $30 million has been allocated for the construction of warehouses and offices in Victoria state, with the stockpile expected to reach full capacity by 2028. Weapons and supplies will initially be stored in Melbourne before being transferred to new US warehouses at an Australian military base in Bandiana, rural Victoria, starting next year.

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Marine Corps activities in Australia support integrated global sustainment by maintaining ready-for-issue equipment and supplies for operations and exercises across the Indo-Pacific.

This development occurs amid increasing US military rotations in Australia, a nation that does not permit foreign military bases on its soil. The US Navy is engaging a defense contractor to manage the stockpile, which will include "crew-served weapons." A US Marine Corps Forces Pacific spokesperson stated that these activities support global sustainment and enhance readiness for operations and exercises across the Indo-Pacific.

The stockpile at Bandiana, approved last July, is separate from US Army equipment previously left at the base after a joint war game. The initiative underscores the deepening security alliance between the US and Australia and their shared concerns regarding regional stability.

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These activities improve responsiveness, strengthen interoperability with allies and partners, and support a range of missions across the Indo-Pacific.