Australian Defense Minister David Johnston announced that the United States and Australia are expected to sign an international deal on Tuesday to allow 2,500 U.S. Marine and Air Force troops to train alongside Australian forces in the Northern Territory.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will sign the 25-year-long deal in Sydney together with the respective Australian Secretary Julie Bishop and Defense Minister Johnston.

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Johnston described the international agreement as a win-win situation for both parties because it will allow them to benefit from each other.

In the press conference attended by Hagel and Kerry on Monday, Johnston stated that they will accommodate the U.S. Marine and defense force personnel with hospitality. He also vowed to give access to open Commonwealth military exercise grounds and training ranges.

Everything went well with the U.S. forces in town and everything worked according to plan without any problems, said Johnston. In fact, during the dry season of Australia, more than 1,200 members of the U.S. troops were already in the Northern Territory doing their exercises.

In return for the defense agreemtn, the U.S. Marines will teach Australian Military about proficiency in aquatic operations and disaster relief missions, some reports said.

Moreover, Hagel said they will address other issues including the situation in Ukraine and threat from Islamic State militants in Iraq. Aside from that, both parties will also discuss Afghanistan, maritime security, missile defense and special forces during the agreement signing.

Hagel explained that the Tuesday talks would provide officials an opportunity to explore better ways which both countries could cooperate in the said areas. The deal would likely boost the military cooperation and strengthen defense ties between the allies.

Australia also offered assistance to U.S. in its humanitarian aid to the victims of the fighting in Ukraine.

The talks would be an important next step in a progressing degree of access and presence for American assets on Australian territory, according to Bates Gill, by the chief executive of the U.S. Studies Centre of University of Sydney.

TagsAustralia, US marine, Agreement