USS Minnesota (Image: U.S. Navy)
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The advanced Virginia-class attack submarine USS Minnesota deployed to the port of Perth, Australia, recently in a show of force under the agreement by Canberra to buy four of the submarines.
The southwestern Australia port call coincided with provocative Chinese naval operations near the continent that included unannounced live-fire drills off the Australian coast.
The Navy’s Pacific Fleet said in a statement the U.S. submarine arrived at the port Feb. 25 and is the first of two planned fast-attack submarine visits this year. The submarine will be training Australian submariners.
The port visit is part of the Australia, United Kingdom, United States trilateral agreement called AUKUS that will produce Australia’s first nuclear-powered attack submarines. Plans call for four U.S. attack submarines and one British attack submarine to be operating from the Perth port.
By the 2030s, Australia will receive the first of three Virginia-class submarines it is buying. Australia’s first domestically produced nuclear submarine will be built in the early 2040s.
China sent a naval task force of a frigate, cruiser, and fueler to waters around Australia beginning in late February. The warships passed within 186 miles of Perth on March 4, the Australian Defense Ministry said.
It is not known if the Minnesota conducted surveillance operations of the Chinese naval force.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.
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