Australia Opens Missile Defense Study

Australia has begun a missile defense study to examine ways the nation could deploy its own systems or assist U.S.-Japanese efforts, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, May 24).

The study would explore arming three destroyers with Standard Missile 3 missile interceptors as well as participating in joint efforts with other nations, said Defense Minister Brendan Nelson.

Australia “supports the development of the ballistic missile defense by Japan in cooperation with the United States of America as a defensive measure specifically for rogue states, such as North Korea,” he said today.  “We are studying the extent to which we might also be able to ... provide assistance in that regard.”

Nelson said long-range North Korean missiles would threaten northern Australia and could also hold at risk Australian trade with Asian nations.

The study is in its early stages and a missile defense deployment decision would probably fall to a “future government,” Nelson said (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, June 5).

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