西澳州州长罗杰·库克就美国在HMAS斯特林的军事部署做出明确表态，强调该设施不会演变为美国军事基地[1]。据报道，2300名美国军人将被部署到这一西澳州设施[1]。
国防部长帕特·康罗伊曾表示潜艇轮换部署受限于五年期限，但随后进行了更正，指出美国在该地可能保持无限期的军事存在[1]。美国方面表示"潜艇轮换部队西部分遣队旨在成为美国在澳大利亚长期军事态势的一个持久组成部分"[1]。澳大利亚政府将这一安排描述为AUKUS伙伴关系框架下的必要管理举措[1]。
为支持这一部署，HMAS斯特林获得了超过60亿澳元的建设投资[1]。洛克汉姆-昆纳纳地区正经历人口快速增长，每月约有700个家庭迁入该地区[1]。
Western Australia's Premier Roger Cook has emphasized that the HMAS Stirling naval facility will not become a US military base, despite plans to deploy 2,300 American military personnel to the site.[1] Cook's statement addresses concerns following comments from Australian Defence Minister Pat Conroy, who initially suggested submarine rotations would be limited to five years before later clarifying that the US could maintain an indefinite presence at the location.[1]
The deployment is framed as part of the AUKUS partnership framework and represents what officials describe as "an enduring element of US force posture in Australia."[1] The facility is receiving over 6 billion Australian dollars in construction investment to accommodate the increased military activity.[1] Cook's clarification comes as the Rockingham-Kwinana region experiences rapid population growth, with approximately 700 households relocating to the area monthly.[1]