United States Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Sydney today for annual talks with close ally Australia, which an official said will range from the crisis in Iraq to security issues in Asia.
The key feature of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) is expected to be the signing of the framework for the rotational deployment of up to 2,500 US Marines through the northern city of Darwin.
A US State Department official said Kerry, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and their Australian counterparts Julie Bishop and David Johnston will also consult on regional issues in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including Myanmar. “It is an opportunity for them to align their defence policies as allies to explore ways that they can extend and expand security cooperation as well as strategic planning,” officials told the media.
