A new defence pact was signed between the USA and Australia on 16 November 2011. The security pact was signed during US President Barak Obama’s Australia visit. This agreement updated a 60-year-old security alliance between the USA and Australia.

The pact will allow up to 250 US marines to be stationed in Darwin in northern Australia in the first phase which will begin in 2012. There will be a rotation every six months, which will bring more than 2,500 marines stationed in Australia by 2014.

The two nations also agreed to enhance air force cooperation and visits by US carriers to northern Australia.