BLUF
While the world is focused on the Russo-Ukraine conflict, the USA is increasing its engagements with Australia, making it clear to China how the USA values its partnership with Australia.Summary
This article by Ashish Dangwal, writing for The Eurasian Times, makes the following points:
- On 23 March, a B-2 stealth bomber B-2 Stealth Bomber conducted a mission with five different fighter aircraft from the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.
- The USAF B-2 flew to RAAF base Amberley and became the first B-2 Spirit to land there.
- As part of the exercise, the B-2 was integrated with eight fighter jets—two RAAF F-35As, two RAAF EA-18 Growlers, two RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets and two USAF F-16Cs.
- The two countries’ defence cooperation is primarily driven by the increasing importance of military engagement to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
References
- F-35 01: COLLECTION | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- Defence to grow to largest size since Vietnam War, increasing by nearly 20,000 people by 2040 | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- Australia’s China policy and national security | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- MAR 2022 B-2 conducts mission in Indo-Pacific, integrates with US, Royal Australian Air Force fighters—Air Force (US)
- MAR 2022 Whiteman B-2 Flies to Australia and Back, Conducts Training with RAAF—Air Force Magazine
