The United States wants Australia to cooperate in developing internationally deployed missile defenses, the Weekend Australian reported Saturday (see GSN, Feb. 27).

The system could include radar facilities or interceptors based in Australia, and Australian Navy ships could take part in the system.  J.D. Crouch, a senior Pentagon official, said he planned to visit Canberra to discuss the issue, according to the Weekend Australian.

“We don’t have any particular solution here,” Crouch said.  “One thing would be the basing of ship-based systems (in Australia); there might be some sensors (radar) that would be valuable to place there; maybe even interceptors,” he added.

Noting threats from countries such as North Korea, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said “a way of taking out missiles is a logical way to go.”

“The more likely progress will be through a ship-based scheme that won’t be specifically designed to protect continental Australia, but will have the capability of missile interception that will give us the potential to engage in a broader missile defense agenda,” he added (Roy Eccleston, Weekend Australian, July 12).

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top