U.S. – Australia Relations

Minister for Defence Meeting with US Secretary of Defense, Signing of Harold E. Holt Treaty

Washington, D.C. — 18 July 2008

MIN87/08

On 15 July 2008, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, met with US counterpart, Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, to discuss capability, international security issues, joint operations and opportunities for enhanced cooperation.

Mr Fitzgibbon and Secretary Gates discussed prospects for closer cooperation, including interoperability and capability issues.

At the meeting Mr Fitzgibbon and Secretary Gates signed the Harold E. Holt Treaty, which extends the existing co-operation between Australia and the United States on the Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station located at Exmouth in Western Australia.

The Harold E. Holt station provides communications for US and Australian submarines.

The Station was first commissioned in 1967 and in May 1999 Australia took responsibility for the facility. This new treaty sets out the terms and conditions for the joint use of the Station for the next 25 years.

"This Treaty is yet another example of the breadth of the Australia-US Alliance. From the mountains of Afghanistan to the depths of the oceans, Australia and the United States are working together across a wide range of Defence activities aimed at maintaining a secure world," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

The remainder of the Minister's program in Washington included discussions with several US Congress members on Defence and International security issues, current operations, interoperability and the Asia-Pacific.

Original document from www.minister.defence.gov.au.

Last update Friday, 18 July 2008