US Military Plans Permanent Marine Corps Stockpile in Southeast Australia
The U.S. military is establishing a permanent, war-ready weapons stockpile for its Marine Corps on Australia’s southeast coast, a location reportedly beyond the range of most Chinese missiles. This development marks the first Marine Corps land stockpile in Australia, with an allocation of $30 million for warehouses and offices in Victoria state. Expected to reach full capacity by 2028, the initiative aims to leverage Australia’s strategic position in the South Pacific to counter China's military expansion. This move is part of a broader U.S. strategy to pre-position equipment across the Indo-Pacific, enhancing responsiveness and interoperability with allies.
The U.S. military is developing a permanent, war-ready weapons stockpile for its Marine Corps in southeastern Australia, according to tender documents and confirmation from officials to AFP. This marks the first such land stockpile for the Marine Corps in Australia and is strategically located to be beyond the range of most Chinese missiles.
Advanced planning documents published by the U.S. Navy this month indicate a $30 million allocation for constructing warehouses and offices in Victoria state for "critical forward provisioning." The stockpile, which will initially be kept in Melbourne, is slated to move to U.S. warehouses to be built next year at an Australian military base in Bandiana, rural Victoria. It is projected to reach full capacity by 2028.
This initiative comes as the United States seeks to utilize Australia’s strategic location in the South Pacific to counter China’s rapid military build-up. The U.S. Marine Corps has historically pre-positioned military supplies globally, including using floating stores and cave facilities in Norway.
The U.S. Navy plans to engage a global defense contractor to employ approximately 110 specialists, including engineers, mechanics, material, and safety personnel, to manage the Australian stockpile, which will include "crew-served weapons."
A spokesperson for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific stated that these activities support integrated global sustainment by maintaining ready-for-issue equipment and supplies for operations and exercises across the Indo-Pacific. The spokesperson added that such efforts improve responsiveness, strengthen interoperability with allies and partners, and support various missions in the region. Contracting and operation will occur in close coordination with Australia’s Department of Defence.
Australia maintains a policy against permitting foreign military bases on its soil, despite its security alliance with the United States and hosting increasing numbers of rotational U.S. forces at its defense bases. The Marine Corps stockpile at Bandiana, approved in July, is distinct from U.S. Army equipment programs.
The Pentagon has requested $500 million from Congress for the upcoming year to enhance the pre-positioning of equipment and fuel across the Asia-Pacific to deter China. Analysts suggest that the placement of the stockpile in Australia’s southeast is likely a relevant consideration given China's capability to strike northern Australia with ballistic missiles from its South China Sea outposts.
(Source: Dawn Pakistan)
