Australia is a huge country with a small population. It occupies a whole continent but has a population of only 27 million. Its area of almost three million square miles makes it the sixth largest in the world, but it ranks only 55th in population. Despite this, its size and location make it strategically important to the U.S. and our allies in INDOPACOM.

Australia is a key ally for many important military purposes. It is a member of the “Five Eyes” countries. According to Forbes, “The Five Eyes alliance is an intricate web of global intelligence, a covert club that continues to redefine geopolitical landscapes. Comprising five English-speaking countries, this powerful intelligence alliance has established an unprecedented era of surveillance and information sharing that continues to shape the world’s approach to national security.” Being part of Five Eyes alone makes Australia one of the U.S.‘s most critical allies, especially given its location — 4,600 miles from China, it’s only an eight-hour flight from northwest Australia.

Australia is a nuclear power, but only for research purposes. It has neither nuclear weapons nor nuclear power plants due to its abundant natural resources.

Australia is an active member of other regional and international security organizations bearing on the geopolitical and military importance of the South China Sea and Taiwan. It’s a member of:

• The Quad: Quadrilateral Security Dialog among the U.S., Japan, India, and Australia.
  
• The Five Power Defense Arrangement: New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
  
• ANZUS: Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.
  
• AUKUS: Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

These important security partnerships demonstrate the critical part that Australia plays in the defense of the region from undue and improper influence of the expansionist People’s Republic of China and its designs to absorb Taiwan into China, dominate the South China Sea with its fictitious Nine Dash Line, and marginalize or exclude Western nations like the U.S. and the UK, which have centuries-long history and investments in the Indo-Pacific.

AUKUS: With the AUKUS agreement, Australia is moving into a much more critical role in the region by deciding to acquire up to five Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines in the early 2030s. Construction of facilities has already begun. After the Virginia-class SSN, its successor submarine would be based on a UK next-generation design and incorporate substantial U.S. submarine technology. When built, Australian submarines will operate from HMAS Stirling, a base near Perth in southwestern Australia. With U.S. and UK assistance, Australia will eventually be able to build, operate, and maintain its own nuclear-powered submarine fleet. Australia is paying its own way with the program, having put up billions in upfront money.

Marines in Australia: For the last 15 years, U.S. Marines have done rotations to Australia to “Marine Rotational Force-Darwin,” described by the Australian Defense Department as a “vital pillar” of the Australian Indo-Pacific posture. The 2026 deployment will include training at key sites in Australia, as well as exercises in other Pacific nations, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The Marines, for the first time, will position MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in Australia. In addition, the U.S. continues to sell substantial military tech through Foreign Military Sales to Australia, including planned sales of M142 HIMARS and related equipment at $705 million, Javelin Lightweight Command Launch units at $97 million, MC-55A upgrades at $404 million, and F/A-18F and EA-18G sustainment support at $2 billion.

F-35 Program Support: Australia is not just an important F-35 customer. It has been from the outset of that essential program a leader, innovator, and manufacturer of parts of this most advanced aircraft in the Western world’s arsenal. The F-35 is not only critical to the U.S.’s advanced combat air forces (Air Force, Navy, and Marines) but also a critical aircraft in use by 19 allied nations. More than 1,300 F-35s are already in service, including 72 F-35As operated by Australia. More than 75 Australian firms contribute to the manufacture of the F-35, and by 2025, the Australian industry had more than $5 billion in contract value of F-35 work. Examples of things Australia supplies to the entire world of F-35 users are composite structures, fuselage components, airframe components, avionics, radars, electro-optical components, and sustainment and repair work.

Australia’s armed forces are small but improving, with a long-range plan to grow and improve. Its plan, announced in 2026, calls for a $425 billion investment over a decade to improve its military.

Other key strategic factors:

1.) Australia’s location makes it, in effect, a southern anchor of the Indo-Pacific and a key to U.S. policy in the region and any potential defense of Taiwan should the PRC take military action. Australia would be a key partner for logistics support, fuel, repairs, munitions stockpiles, reconnaissance, submarine access to the South China Sea, and providing a sanctuary away from combat operations for U.S. and allied ships.

2.) Northern Australia is a U.S. training and launch location. We are building infrastructure in Tindal, Darwin, and Amberley, locations that can and will support aircraft of all types and Marine forces. A quick glance at the map shows that Australia links the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, a major factor in any military planning of a potential fight in the South China Sea over Taiwan or any U.S. treaty ally.

3.) U.S. space operations, both civil and military, already depend heavily on Australian advanced space support sites. The U.S. also receives major help from Australia in intelligence gathering.

4.) Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network, described by Australia as “a world-leading high-frequency, skywave over-the-horizon radar system,” provides exceptional surveillance at long ranges for air and marine operations, disasters, and search and rescue. Its military applications are of strategic importance.

5.) Critical minerals are plentiful in Australia. The U.S. and Australia signed a critical minerals and rare earths framework in 2025 that will ease pressure on the U.S. by providing an alternative to China for these vital minerals that our defense depends on.

Australia is a critical ally in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. foreign policy and the ability to defend our friends and allies depend on a militarily strong Australia and on its continued exemplary support for America and our allies in the region.