The United States is considering the Cocos Islands, a remote Australian territory, as a potential site for military construction under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. This move aims to bolster US force posture and infrastructure to counter China’s increasing influence in the region.
Strategic Location and Significance
The Cocos Islands, with a population of 600, are situated 3,000 kilometers west of the Australian mainland, near a critical Indian Ocean chokepoint for Chinese oil shipments. The Australian Defence Force regards the islands as pivotal for maritime surveillance operations, especially given China’s growing submarine activity in the Indian Ocean.
Potential US Military Projects
A US Navy construction tender published in June included the Cocos Islands among possible project locations, signaling US interest in accessing this strategic territory. The tender is part of broader plans encompassing the Philippines, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.
“These projects may or may not support the Darwin Marines Rotational Force,” a spokesman for NAVFAC Pacific, the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet engineering arm, told Reuters via email. Currently, around 2,000 US Marines are stationed in Darwin, Australia, for half of each year.
Geopolitical Implications
The Cocos Islands are strategically closer to the Strait of Malacca—a vital chokepoint for half of China’s oil shipments—than the US Navy base at Diego Garcia. The latter has been a crucial launch pad for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan but faces an uncertain future.
Darshana Baruah, director of security and geopolitics for the Australia India Institute, emphasized the importance of the Cocos Islands at a US Congressional hearing last year. She highlighted that the islands’ proximity to potential conflict zones makes them critical for exerting pressure on China, particularly in deterring any aggression toward Taiwan.
“The strategic location of the Cocos Islands, near both the Strait of Malacca and Australia’s northern approaches, offers immense geostrategic advantages,” Baruah told Reuters.
Australian-US Cooperation
Australia plans to begin construction on an expanded airfield on the Cocos Islands this year. The upgraded airfield will accommodate heavier military aircraft, including the submarine-hunting P-8A Poseidon.
“There is currently no US investment at Cocos (Keeling) Island,” an Australian Defence Force spokesman said in a statement. However, Australia and the US maintain close cooperation to enhance their force posture across various locations in Australia.
The US military is also developing bomber runways and facilities at two key northern Australian air bases, further solidifying its strategic presence in the region.
Diego Garcia and Regional Security
While the future of the Diego Garcia air base remains uncertain, it continues to play a vital role in regional security. The US has indicated that decisions regarding the base’s future are to be resolved between Britain and Mauritius, following a 2019 United Nations General Assembly vote for its return to Mauritius.
Conclusion
As the US seeks to strengthen its military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, the potential development of the Cocos Islands into a military base underscores the ongoing strategic competition with China. The move reflects a broader effort to ensure regional stability and security amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
