Pentagon confirms enduring US submarine presence at HMAS Stirling, Australia

Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy clarified that the Submarine Rotational Force West (SRF‑West) is intended to be an enduring element of U.S. force posture in Australia, ending a week‑long confusion after he suggested the U.S. submarine rotation at HMAS Stirling would be limited to five years. The Pentagon, after a 48‑hour review, issued a statement confirming that U.S. submarines will remain in Western Australia on an indefinite basis.

The clarification follows the docking of the Virginia‑class USS Minnesota at HMAS Stirling in February 2025 and comes amid broader AUKUS discussions about the strategic role of U.S. naval assets in deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo‑Pacific. U.S. defence officials, including Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, have previously expressed concern about the impact of rotating U.S. submarines to Australia on the U.S. Navy’s own operational needs, but view the base as a valuable forward position.