US assigns first nuclear-powered sub to Australian base

The USS Colorado, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, has been assigned to join a rotating force that will be based in Western Australia, according to the Pentagon. This marks a significant milestone in strengthening the joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific under the Aukus defence pact, officials announced on Tuesday.

The 377-foot-long Virginia-Class submarine, equipped with land-attack missiles and advanced torpedoes, is set to arrive at the new Australian base in late 2027, the officials said. This deployment is seen as a significant milestone in building up a joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific, as stated in a joint statement by the allies.

The Aukus defence agreement, which aims to respond to China's military buildup in the region, seeks to equip Australia's navy with a fleet of stealthy nuclear-powered submarines and enhance military cooperation among the three allies. Although Australia does not allow foreign military bases on its territory, it currently hosts US Marines for six months of the year in Darwin.

The rotating force of nuclear-powered submarines, known as Submarine Rotational Force-West, will be hosted at HMAS Stirling, a naval base in Western Australia. The base is projected to accommodate up to five fast-attack submarines, with four from the United States and one from the UK, rotating on a regular basis.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described the arrival of the USS Colorado as the first "really big milestone" under the Aukus agreement. He stated that the deployment is on track and that American personnel are currently preparing the site in HMAS Stirling for the submarine's arrival. The Aukus submarine programme, according to government forecasts, could cost up to US$235 billion over 30 years and is central to Australia's defence strategy.