U.S. To Boost Naval Presence in Perth, Says Australian Minister

DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith has flagged in the clearest terms yet that Australia will deepen its long-term involvement in the United States' strategic "pivot" to Asia by boosting the role of the naval base at Perth in the build-up of American forces in the region.

Ahead of the high-level AUSMIN talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in the West Australian capital on Wednesday, Mr Smith said Perth's HMAS Stirling would inevitably rise in prominence as the Indian Ocean gained strategic importance.

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