The US has “led Australia into wars of aggression” for 50 years, internal party campaign group Labor Against War has argued, urging the government to chart a foreign policy independent “from the American war machine”.
The Australian government has defended the growing presence of the US military on the Australian continent, insisting the defence sites “are Australian bases under Australian control”, despite evidence the US military controls more than a dozen bases on Australian territory.
On Monday, the Guardian data showing the US military, and US weapons manufacturers, control or have access to more than 100 bases across the Australian continent.
The Guardian has detailed 17 military facilities on Australian soil that are controlled by the United States military. The military has access to 75 more Australian-run bases, and US defence corporations access to 18 more.
In total, the US military and American defence corporations have control of or access to 110 facilities on Australian territory, well over half of all the military installations in Australia. That analysis has not been contradicted. The data was compiled by Dr Richard Tanter, senior research associate with the US-based Nautilus Institute.
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The publication of the database has exposed disquiet within the Labor party over growing US military presence across the continent.
Marcus Strom, the national convener of the grassroots Labor Against War group, said “the latticework of US bases and facilities across our continent should alarm anyone that values Australia’s independence from the American war machine”.
“For more than 50 years the US has led Australia into wars of aggression,” Strom said.
“Labor Against War calls on the Albanese government to chart a new course for Australia’s foreign and defence policy that is suited to the future, not clinging to the fading guarantees of the past.”
Strom said the government should abandon the Aukus nuclear submarine agreement as a first step.
In question time in Senate, Greens senator David Shoebridge asked foreign affairs minister Penny Wong why they decided to “sign us up to next US war”.
Wong said they would resolutely defend their alliance with America and that “everything they’re doing is working to deter and avert conflict”.
US military presence in Australia, mapped – video
“We are of view that US alliance contributes to Australian sovereignty. It enables us to have access to range of capability that Australia wouldn’t have access to,” she said.
Wong told Senate that U. S. military presence in country is “at Australia’s invitation”.
“These are Australian bases under Australian command.”
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Shoebridge stated Australians living near U. S. military sites feared being targets if conflict arose in region due attacks on U. S. bases during current Iran war.
“These bases obviously make Australia target when U. S. decides start next forever war don’t they?”
Shoebridge pressed Wong for an example where Australia turned down U. S. use of an Aussie base.
“Access use Aussie facilities.. is rotational basis mutually determined at Australia’s invitation,” Wong replied.
Pine Gap best known joint defense facility established by CIA back in 1960’s near Alice Springs showed documents leaked by Edward Snowden confirm chief facility always American reporting directly National Reconnaissance Office while deputy senior Aussie Signals Directorate official holds position.
Former defense minister Christopher Pyne labeled Pine Gap “more American than Aussie.” There are many other locations within mainland under U. S., including GPS monitoring station RAAF Edinburgh base South Austrailia solar observatory Learmonth Western Ausrtalia.
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Shoebridge stated Australians living near U. S. military sites feared being targets if conflict arose in region due attacks on U. S. bases during current Iran war.
“These bases obviously make Australia target when U. S. decides start next forever war don’t they?”
Shoebridge pressed Wong for an example where Australia turned down U. S. use of an Aussie base.
“Access use Aussie facilities.. is rotational basis mutually determined at Australia’s invitation,” Wong replied.
Pine Gap best known joint defense facility established by CIA back in 1960’s near Alice Springs showed documents leaked by Edward Snowden confirm chief facility always American reporting directly National Reconnaissance Office while deputy senior Aussie Signals Directorate official holds position.
Former defense minister Christopher Pyne labeled Pine Gap “more American than Aussie.” There are many other locations within mainland under U. S., including GPS monitoring station RAAF Edinburgh base South Austrailia solar observatory Learmonth Western Ausrtalia.>Minister Defense Richard Marles visited last week agreeing Secretary Defense Pete Hegseth accelerate force posture initiatives at Austrailain bases strengthening combined logistics cooperation building greater interoperability through joint exercises
Marles commented American force posture continues growing throughout Austrailia across all domains.
We believe that’s crucial providing deterrence stability peace Indo-Pacific which aligns with Australia’s national interest.
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