For the first time in US history, a U.S. Naval Ship joined service at a foreign port.
The US commissioned warship USS Canberra in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday. The commissioning ceremony was held at an Australian Naval Base on Sydney Harbour.
This development comes after the two allies decided to strengthen their military relations amidst China’s growing regional reach.
The Independence-class littoral combat ship is named after a Royal Australian Navy Cruiser that sank when it aided the U.S. Marine Landings on Quadalcanal in 1942.
Australian Defence Minister Marles said, “Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy.”
He also mentioned that the commissioning of a US naval vessel in Australia reflects both nations shared commitment to uphold a rules-based order.
The commissioning ceremony was held while the biennial Talisman Sabre military exercises are going on between US and Australia. It represents force and unity between the two close allies as China aggressively asserts its power in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercises have been held at several places in Australia for more than two weeks, including mock land, air combat, and amphibious landings.
Apart from the forces of the US and Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, and Britain are also participating in the same.
Germany has become a participant in this exercise for the first time with its 210 paratroopers and marines as the nation tries to assert its presence in the region.
Additionally, per the AUKUS Project, the US and UK have decided to aid Australia in acquiring a nuclear submarine fleet.
Per this project, the US would sell Australia, three US. Virginia class Nuclear Submarines, and Australia would have the choice to purchase two more.
Source: Marine Insight
