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TOPIC: Clinton Leads U.S., Australia Talks on Policy Goals, Closer Military Ties (Bloomberg 11/07/10)

Jen the Michigander

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Date: Nov 7, 2010

Clinton Leads U.S., Australia Talks on Policy Goals, Closer Military Ties (Bloomberg 11/07/10)	Permalink

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-07/clinton-leads-u-s-australia-talks-on-policy-goals-closer-military-ties.html The U.S. and Australia begin talks today on further aligning foreign policy goals and deepening defense ties, including possibly increasing U.S. use of Australian military bases. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd lead the talks that will focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the peaceful uses of space, counterterrorism and cyber security. The so-called AUSMIN forum brings the foreign and defense ministers from the countries together for annual discussions. The leaders from the two nations are “going to look for new opportunities” to work together, Clinton said yesterday before today’s talks begin in Melbourne. This year marks AUSMIN’s 25th anniversary and the 70th year of formal relations between Australia and the U.S. Those milestones come as Australia and other Asia-Pacific nations are adjusting to China’s rising power and President Barack Obama and Clinton work to reassert U.S. leadership in the region. Rudd said Nov. 6 that his country would be happy to deepen military cooperation with the U.S. Australia would “welcome the United States making greater use of our ports and our training facilities, our test-firing ranges,” Rudd said at an appearance with Clinton soon after her arrival in Melbourne. “That has been the case in decades past and will be the case for decades in the future.” Prime Minister Julia Gillard told local media yesterday that closer military cooperation serves Australian interests. “It does give the possibility, of course, for further joint exercises, further collaboration,” Gillard said on Nine Network television. After U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Clinton, Rudd and Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith meet for the AUSMIN talks, they are expected to issue a communiqué outlining areas of agreement. Clinton is taking part at the end of a two-week tour of the Asia-Pacific to reaffirm U.S. engagement there. The trip, Clinton’s sixth to the region since taking office, included stops in Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, New Zealand and energy-rich Papua New Guinea. __________________ Nobody puts THIS baby in the corner!

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