What You Need to Know:

In a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States and Australia have announced plans to bolster their defense cooperation.

They will collaborate on manufacturing guided missiles and rockets over the next two years.

The two countries revealed the news this past Saturday.

The Details:

The announcement of greater integration between the U.S. and Australian militaries was made following annual talks between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and their Australian counterparts, Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

The joint effort will focus on Australia producing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems by 2025.

Speaking about the missile production collaboration, Austin emphasized that it would strengthen both countries’ defense industrial base and technological edge. He stated, “We’re racing to accelerate Australia’s priority access to munitions through a streamlined acquisition process.”

Marles expressed gratitude for U.S. support and echoed his enthusiasm for establishing a guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise in Australia.

Last year, U.S. companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin established an Australian enterprise to manufacture such weapons.

In addition to missile production, the two governments agreed to upgrade joint military facilities in Australia and increase U.S. nuclear submarine visits.

Last year, the South Pacific became a focal point in the competition between the U.S. and China for regional influence, following Beijing’s signing of a security pact with Solomon Islands and discussions about a potential Chinese naval base in the area.

This all comes on the heels of a trilateral partnership unveiled in March, where Britain committed to providing Australia with eight submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.