US Amphibious Assault Ship Arrives Australia Ahead Largest Joint War Games

The USS America, the U.S. Navy's lead amphibious assault ship in the Indo-Pacific, arrived in Sydney Harbour ahead of the Talisman Sabre war games and the upcoming summit between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump, where military issues are expected to dominate. The ship, part of a strike group carrying 2,500 sailors and marines along with submarine-hunting helicopters and F-35B fighter jets, highlights the strong and diverse bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Australia. Over 30,000 personnel from 19 countries are participating in Talisman Sabre, the largest Australian-U.S. war-fighting exercise spanning from Christmas Island to the Coral Sea. Discussions at the summit, coinciding with the Group of Seven economic powers meeting in Canada, will likely focus on Washington's request for Australia to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP from 2%. The Pentagon is currently reviewing the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership with Australia and Britain, a move that Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described as unsurprising but indicative of ongoing close cooperation. The USS America’s port visit in Sydney is also seen as a symbol of the shared values and strategic partnership between the two nations, reinforcing their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.