AWPR Public Statement
The AUSMIN talks between the Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers of the United States and Australia, held in Washington D.C, on December 8, 2025, didn’t mention China, but all their announcements were about Australia providing much more for US preparations for a military confrontation with China.
The AUSMIN language simply referred to “demands of the Indo-Pacific strategic environment”
The significant new announcements were:
- Australia paying another US$1 billion to expand the US industrial base for nuclear submarine construction, bringing its total contribution so far to US$2 billion, with another billion to come.
- New infrastructure at RAAF Tindal and RAAF Darwin to support US bombers, fighters and intelligence surveillance aircraft, and prepare to do the same at RAAF Amberley.
- Expand the US Marine Rotational Force in Darwin with a base for Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and other logistics.
- Create formal Northern and Sothern Nodes for logistics in Australia.
- Establish a US Australian Command, called an “Oversight and Support Group – Australia” to coordinate US military forces in Australia.
- Create a Guided Weapons and Explosives Ordinance Enterprise within two years to jointly produce Hypersonic Cruise Missiles, Advanced Air-to-Air Missiles, and expand this to maritime strike and interceptor weapons in 2026
- The Ministers emphasised that the creation of the Submarine Rotational Force – West at HMAS Stirling by 2027 was critical.
The Australian parliament and the Australian people have not been properly informed or consulted about having the US military set up a command centre in Australia which would be able to launch aggressive operations at China from Australian soil.
Moreover, the US and UK submarines at HMAS Stirling will be armed with nuclear capable Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the B-52 and B-2 strategic bombers will also be nuclear capable.
Australians for War Powers Reform vigorously objects to the secrecy and lack of consultation on these major decisions
We urge that full information on our deepening involvement with US war plans, which was intensified at the recent AUSMIN talks, be provided to the Australian people and parliament, so that proper debate on the many far-reaching implications can take place.
