The United States military is moving ahead with plans to establish a permanent war-ready weapons stockpile for its Marine Corps on Australia's southeast coast. According to tender documents and officials who spoke to AFP, the facility will be located beyond the range of most Chinese missiles. The development marks the first Marine Corps stockpile of its kind in Australia and reflects Washington's efforts to strengthen its military presence across the Indo-Pacific region.

The move comes as the United States seeks to make greater use of Australia's strategic position in the South Pacific while responding to China's rapidly expanding military capabilities. Defence analysts say the project is part of a broader effort to improve military readiness and logistics in the region.

The Marine Corps has a long history of storing military equipment in strategic locations. During the Cold War, the United States began prepositioning supplies around the world through storage ships and facilities such as caves in Norway. These locations held weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other supplies capable of supporting thousands of troops during military operations.

The first land-based Marine Corps stockpile in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to become operational in the Philippines later this year. The site is located close to areas of potential tension in the South China Sea.

Recent documents released by the US Navy show that planning for an Australian facility is already well advanced. Around $30 million has been allocated for the construction of warehouses and office buildings in Victoria state. The project is described as supporting "critical forward provisioning."

According to the documents, the stockpile will initially be stored in Melbourne before being transferred to new US-operated warehouses at the Australian military base in Bandiana, a rural area in Victoria. Construction of those warehouses is expected to begin next year. The facility is scheduled to reach full operational capacity by 2028.

Australia does not allow foreign military bases on its territory. The issue remains politically sensitive because of the country's long-standing security alliance with the United States. However, Australia continues to host a growing number of rotating American military forces at Australian defence facilities.

Tender documents also show that the US Navy is seeking a global defence contractor to manage the stockpile. The contractor would employ about 110 engineers, mechanics, safety specialists and materials experts. The stockpile is expected to include "crew-served weapons."

A spokesperson for US Marine Corps Forces Pacific confirmed the purpose of the project and told AFP, "Marine Corps activities in Australia support integrated global sustainment by maintaining ready-for-issue equipment and supplies for operations and exercises across the Indo-Pacific."

The spokesperson declined to discuss specific contract details or military planning assumptions. However, the official stated that Marine Corps equipment is maintained at "high readiness."

The spokesperson added that all contracting arrangements and operation of the facility would be carried out in close coordination with Australia's Department of Defence.

"These activities improve responsiveness, strengthen interoperability with allies and partners, and support a range of missions across the Indo-Pacific," the spokesperson said.

The Bandiana military base has previously hosted US military equipment. In 2023, US Army trucks were left at the base following a major Australian war game that included American troops and was conducted every two years. The newly approved Marine Corps stockpile is separate from the Army operations and received approval in July last year.

Addressing the distinction, Marine Corps spokesperson said, "Marine Corps and Army equipment programmes are designed to support their respective service requirements and are managed under separate authorities and processes."

Australia's Department of Defence did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on the project.

The stockpile plan is part of a wider American military strategy in the region. The Pentagon has requested $500 million from Congress for next year to improve the prepositioning of equipment and fuel across the Asia-Pacific. The goal is to strengthen deterrence against China and improve operational readiness.

At present, around 2,000 US Marines spend six months each year conducting training exercises in Darwin, located on Australia's northern coast.

The location of the new stockpile has also drawn attention from security experts. A report released this week by the Lowy Institute warned that China now has the capability to strike northern Australia using ballistic missiles launched from military outposts in the South China Sea.

Sam Roggeveen, the think tank's director of international security, said the missile threat was likely an important factor in choosing southeastern Australia as the location for the facility.

"Once these facilities are operational, they would be obvious targets for China," he said.

Roggeveen also argued that the expansion of US military equipment and personnel in Australia represents a significant shift in Australian policy.

"The growth of US forces and equipment in Australia is 'a major change to Australian policy that ties Australia much more closely to America's strategic objectives in the region'," Roggeveen said.

Australian National University professor of international security John Blaxland said Australia's geographic position has become increasingly valuable as concerns grow about the vulnerability of the major US military base on Guam.

"With competition for influence in the Indo-Pacific having reached the highest level in over a generation, it is not surprising that the US Marines might look to Australia to enable such storage," he said.

Blaxland added that increasing American investment in Australian military infrastructure is widely viewed as a practical option.

"Barring a massive increase in Australian defence expenditure, for which there is little political appetite, facilitating greater US investment in Australian real estate is widely considered to be the most prudent approach to take."