Officials back more military presence by the US in Australia

Washington and Canberra on Wednesday 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 defense force to focus on its missile strike capability and deterring would-be foes from its northern approaches.US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Canberra understood “the gravity of maintaining a favorable balance of power in the region” as he met with Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles in Washington. Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles, left, and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pose for a photograph at the Pentagon in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters The two “agreed to accelerate force posture initiatives at Australian bases, bo