By AFP 29 July 2023 | 8:06 am Washington will seek to bolster its shrinking weapons stockpiles by helping Australia develop a missile manufacturing and exporting industry, top officials said Saturday after high-level talks between the two countries. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles (L) talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a press conference at Queensland Government House in Brisbane on July 29, 2023. (Photo by Pat Hoelscher / AFP) Washington will seek to bolster its shrinking weapons stockpiles by helping Australia develop a missile manufacturing and exporting industry, top officials said Saturday after high-level talks between the two countries. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the project after meetings in Brisbane with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. “We hope to see manufacturing of missiles commenced in Australia in two years’ time,” Marles told reporters, hailing the initiative as a boost to his country’s defence and industrial base. “We are really pleased with the steps that we are taking in respect of establishing a guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise in this country,” he added. The project will see Australia develop guided multiple launch rocket systems, or GMLRS. Austin said the plan would help the United States “sharpen our technological edge and strengthen our defence industrial base”. Washington will now work to help Australia build a fledgling domestic missile industry almost from scratch, with an eye to securing a reliable pipeline for its own armed forces down the track. The war in Ukraine has exposed weaknesses in many Western military supply chains and has steadily depleted stocks of missiles and other munitions. Latest 5 mins ago The Nigeria Police Command in Anambra has confirmed the release of a popular native doctor, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, popularly known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki”, by his abductors. 7 mins ago Following composition of the 10th House of Representatives standing committees by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas on July 27, a group of lawmakers have dismissed rumoured rancour among members. The group numbering six lawmakers including the Deputy Chief of Staff to the speaker, Mr Chamberlain Dunkwu, dispelled the rumour at a joint press conference in Abuja. Rep.… 15 mins ago The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says it will be embarking on a massive revenue drive and disconnection of indebted electricity customers in the South-East 42 mins ago Former US president Donald Trump — who has pledged to pursue his White House bid if convicted and sentenced in one of the cases engulfing his comeback bid — on Friday shared a stage with his Republican rivals for the first time in Iowa 1 hour ago Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday said that the United States believes Russia’s defence minister is in North Korea to secure supplies of weapons to aid the stalled invasion of Ukraine.
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