US Plans to Establish Marine Corps Weapons Reserves in Australia
The US will create weapons stockpiles for its Marines in Australia for the first time, leveraging Australia’s strategic location to counter China’s military expansion.
The United States plans to establish weapons reserves for its Marine Corps in Australia for the first time, aiming to use the continent’s strategic location in the South Pacific to counter China’s rapid military buildup, analysts said.
The Marine Corps has stored military supplies worldwide since the Cold War, including on floating warehouses and in caves in Norway. These depots hold weapons, ammunition, and vehicles needed for thousands of troops.
The first land-based storage in the Indo-Pacific region is expected to open this year in the Philippines, near potential conflict areas in the South China Sea.
US Navy documents reveal preliminary planning for an even larger storage facility in Australia. $30 million (€26 million) has been allocated for warehouses and offices in Victoria state to ensure “critical supply.”
According to procurement documents, the Australian reserves—expected to be fully operational by 2028—will initially be stored in Melbourne before being moved to US-built warehouses at the Bandiana military base in rural Victoria next year.
Australia does not allow foreign military bases on its soil, making the issue sensitive. However, the country has a security alliance with the US, and American units rotate through Australian defense bases.
