US nuclear submarines stationed in Australia to enhance Indo-Pacific deployment, targeting China.

The USS Minnesota, a Virginia-class submarine, has arrived in Australia, marking a further deepening of military cooperation under the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Security Treaty (AUKUS). The United States plans to establish a submarine rotation force in Western Australia to enhance its Indo-Pacific strategy and counter China’s growing maritime influence.

As part of the initial actions of this plan, the US military submarines are conducting exercises in the local waters to adapt to the operational environment. The USS Minnesota has embarked on adaptive exercises after departing from its homeport in Guam. It will serve as the vanguard, as by 2027, it is anticipated that four Virginia-class submarines will be stationed at the Royal Australian Navy base in Western Australia.

Commander Jeffrey Corneille of the USS Minnesota described the Virginia-class submarine as the “most advanced warship in the world.” When speaking about the deterrent effect of the submarine, he said, “If someone wakes up thinking, ‘Is today the day?’, we will make them think otherwise, and make them say, ‘Perhaps it’s not the time yet.'”

Australian officials have indicated that between 50 to 80 US Navy personnel will arrive at the HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia in mid-year. The base is undergoing an $8 billion Australian Dollar (approximately $5 billion USD) upgrade to establish the Submarine Rotational Force West.

Within two years, the number of US Navy personnel and support crew at the base is expected to increase to several hundred individuals. Peter Dean, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, highlighted the strategic significance of the Stirling naval base being closer to Asia and the Indian Ocean than the Pacific Fleet headquarters in Hawaii for the United States.

Dean emphasized, “Defending the Indian Ocean is crucial to counter China’s growing military capabilities and influence.” He noted that the shift in strategic focus from the Middle East and Europe to the Indo-Pacific region by the Trump administration has not impacted the Virginia-class submarine project budget at the Pentagon.

Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, stressed the essential role of attack submarines in ensuring Taiwan’s defense, stating it as “absolutely necessary.” He also highlighted the need to accelerate production rates to meet US military demands and fulfill obligations to Australia under the AUKUS agreement to sell submarines.

In November of this year, the USS Minnesota’s homeport will be relocated from Hawaii to Guam. Guam is closer to Taiwan and serves as the sole forward-deployed submarine base for the US military.

Australia reported that the Chinese Navy fleet conducted a circumnavigation of Australia in February to March this year, and carried out live-fire exercises near the east coast of Australia without prior notification, causing disruptions to commercial flights.

Furthermore, when the USS Minnesota entered an Australian port, the Chinese fleet coincidentally passed through Western Australian waters heading into the Indian Ocean, indicating a possible deliberate increase in Chinese military activities in the vicinity of Australia.

AUKUS is Australia’s most expensive defense project to date, with plans to purchase two second-hand Virginia-class submarines by the 2030s and collaborate with the UK to build new nuclear-powered submarines to replace the aging diesel-powered submarine fleet.

In preparation for the transfer of nuclear submarine technology, US Navy officials stated that 115 Australian military personnel are currently undergoing training or participating in the operation of Virginia-class submarines. Additionally, another 130 individuals are receiving maintenance training at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

【This article references relevant reports from Reuters】