“The presence of B-52 bombers in Australia will serve as a message to Beijing as worries of an attack on Taiwan mount”

Photo Credit : Wikipedia,

According to media reports, the US plans to send up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the air base in northern Australia, amid rising tensions with Beijing.

The bombers will have dedicated facilities at the Australian air force's remote Tindal base, about 300 kilometres south of Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABCFour )'s Corners programme broke the story first, using US papers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Australia engages in defence alliances with the United States "on occasion."

"Of course, there are visits to Australia, especially Darwin, which has US Marines stationed there on a rotating basis," Albanese said at a press conference.

The Northern Territory of Australia already has frequent military partnerships with the United States. Thousands of US Marines rotate through the zone each year for training and joint exercises, which President Barack Obama initiated.

According to the ABC story, the US has detailed plans for a "squadron operations complex" for use during the Northern Territory dry season, an attached maintenance centre and a parking area for the B-52s.

The capacity to send long-range bombers to Australia sends a powerful message to rivals about Washington's ability to project air force.

Last year, the US, the UK and Australia struck a security agreement to equip Australia with the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines which infuriated China.

The presence of B-52 bombers in Australia will serve as a message to Beijing as worries of an attack on Taiwan mount, according to Becca Wasser, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Centre for a New American Security.

The United States deployed four B-52 bombers to its Andersen Air Force base in Guam this year.