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A military expert has nominated the Tindal RAAF Base as a likely location to base US missiles. The suggestion has come despite the Federal Government yesterday emphatically denying any request had yet been made on the issue. The rise of China's military ambitions in the Asia-Pacific led to missile talk during a high-level visit of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary Mark Esper over the past few days. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his nation is "constantly" evaluating the way it defends itself, Australia, and the region, including the placement of tools such as missile systems. "We'll now do the things we need to do to create stability and peace and as we do that we will evaluate whether there are certain systems, certain missile systems that make sense to put in certain countries," he said. "These will be long, consultative processes as we work our way through them." The US has raised the possibility of locating medium-range land-based missiles in the region, with conventional and non-nuclear payloads, as a way of countering the rise of China's influence in the region. Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected suggestions the US is aiming to put ground-based missiles in the Top End. Mr Morrison said the US had not requested a missile deployment in northern Australia and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds also poured cold water on the idea. But Defence expert Dr Malcolm Davis last night told ABC-TV that request from the US was still likely to come. He said the Tindal RAAF Base near Katherine was the likely location for any US missile deployment. "There is established military infrastructure there," Dr Davis, from the Australia Strategic Policy Institute said. "There are established areas (at Tindal) where land-based intermediate range forces could be deployed." At a ministerial meeting on Sunday, Senator Reynolds quizzed-newly appointed US Defence Secretary Mark Esper about reports America wanted to station missiles in northern Australia. "You would expect the US secretary of defence to canvass all of these issues in light of what's happening in the Indo-Pacific," she told ABC Radio National on Monday. "But I can confirm that he made no request and he wasn't anticipating any request." Meanwhile, Mr Morrison indicated Australia could join a United States-led international effort to secure shipping in the Persian Gulf, stressing the importance of making the crucial trade route safer. Canberra is considering joining Washington's efforts to stitch together a global coalition to hit back after Iran captured foreign oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Morrison said the international effort was about providing freedom of shipping lanes in a sensitive and economically important area. Katherine Times

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