More U.S. navy vessels likely to visit W Australia

More U.S. Navy vessels are likely to visit Western Australia under a new security agreement with Australia that will strengthen military ties between the two countries, local media reported on Thursday. The agreement for expansion of joint military ties has recently been announced by U. S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), there are reportedly plans for more ships and submarines to move through the HMAS Stirling naval base near Garden Island, off the coast of Perth in Western Australia, in addition to an increasing military presence in the Northern Territory. Neil James, Executive Director of the Australia Defense Association, said that HMAS Stirling will play a part in America's strategy to boost its East Asian presence and that is important to Australia's future maritime defense. "The only way we have secure sea lanes basically is the Western Alliance fed by the United States," he said. "Two thirds of the Army's combat force is now in Northern Australia, nearly half the fleet is in Western Australia," he added.