Thousands of U.S. Marines arrive in northern Australia

U.S. Marines and Sailors have begun arriving in Australia’s Northern Territory for the 14th rotation of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D), kicking off a months-long training deployment designed to deepen military cooperation between the United States and Australia.

This year’s rotation, MRF-D 25.3, includes approximately 2,500 U.S. personnel who will train and operate alongside the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the 25-year Australia-U.S. Force Posture Agreement.

The deployment is part of a long-standing effort to enhance regional security, military readiness, and interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.

“The Marines and Sailors of this year’s rotation look forward to training with our Australian counterparts and regional partners, building upon decades of shared tradition and operational experience,” said Colonel Jason C. Armas, Commanding Officer of MRF-D 25.3. “The shared experiences during this deployment will strengthen our collective ability to address challenges and promote stability across the Indo-Pacific.”

The rotational force will engage in a broad spectrum of training across Australia and with partners throughout the region—including in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, New Caledonia, and the Philippines. The agenda includes exercises in humanitarian assistance, disaster response, non-combatant evacuation operations, embassy reinforcement, expeditionary logistics, and rapid deployment scenarios.

In total, the Marines and Sailors will participate in 17 major exercises during this rotation. Among them is Exercise Talisman Sabre 25, set to be Australia’s largest military exercise since the Second World War. The multinational drill will include forces from 19 nations, further demonstrating the growing emphasis on collaborative defence across the Indo-Pacific.

Since its inception in 2011, the MRF-D programme has expanded significantly in scale and complexity. It continues to be a visible and practical expression of the close Australia-U.S. alliance, reflecting a shared commitment to maintaining a secure and stable regional order.