Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks with Vice Admiral Robert L Thomas, US Ambassador John Berry (second right) and Major General Stuart Smith (right) after arriving aboard the US Navy’s USS Blue Ridge, as it enters Sydney Harbour yesterday.
DPA/Sydney
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott praised the US Navy yestrday as a “comforting presence” ahead of war games in northern Australia starting at the weekend.
Abbott was flown by US Navy helicopter out to the US Navy Pacific command ship Blue Ridge, and talked to sailors as the ship steamed into Sydney Harbour. “I’ve got to say that it’s a very comforting presence in the world, the US Navy, and good to have you in Sydney,” Abbott told the US sailors, the broadcaster ABC reported.
The war games called Talisman Sabre 2015 start tomorrow and are due to include 30,000 soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan with tens of thousands of troops storming ashore near Rockhampton and Darwin.Warships and planes will also be involved in mock battles during the exercise which will last 20 days.
