Defence chiefs back boosting US military presence in Australia

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gives a thumbs up as he stands for a photo with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles during an honour cordon at the Pentagon, in Washington, DC, US, Sep 2, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper) 03 Sep 2026 01:09PM SYDNEY: Washington and Canberra agreed to boost the US military presence in Australia and speed up cooperation, both countries said.Wary of China's unprecedented military build-up, US ally Australia has reshaped its defence force in recent years to focus on its missile strike capability and deterring would-be foes from its northern approaches.US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Canberra understood "the gravity of maintaining a favourable balance of power in the region" as he met with his Australian counterpart Ri