US & Australian Naval Forces strengthen maritime cooperation in strategic Strait of Malacca.

According to information published by the US DoD on October 23, 2024, the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Dewey (DDG 105), sailed alongside the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac-class frigate, HMAS Stuart (FFH 153), in the narrow yet strategically critical Strait of Malacca.
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The US Navy's destroyer USS Dewey and the Australian destroyer HMAS Stuart. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Strait of Malacca, a key maritime chokepoint linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. By sailing together, the U.S. and Australian navies sent a clear message of mutual support and regional stability, reinforcing international laws governing freedom of navigation. Such missions are crucial as the strait not only supports substantial global trade flow but also presents unique security challenges due to its geographical layout and increased presence of non-state actors and piracy threats.

The USS Dewey, equipped with advanced Aegis combat systems and a range of weapons systems such as SM-2 missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles, is designed for both defensive and offensive operations in littoral and open-ocean environments. Its Australian counterpart, HMAS Stuart, an Anzac-class frigate equipped for surface and air defense operations, boasts radar and sonar systems along with Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Australia and the United States have strengthened their naval relations significantly through the AUKUS alliance, a trilateral partnership with the United Kingdom. This agreement, initiated in 2021, aims to bolster security and naval capability in the Indo-Pacific, particularly through nuclear-powered submarine technology, where Australia plans to develop a fleet supported by American and British expertise. By the late 2020s, the U.S. is expected to rotate Virginia-class submarines through Australia, allowing the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to build expertise in nuclear propulsion and submarine maintenance, essential for sustaining its own future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines from the 2030s onward​.

2024 has seen active steps in this partnership, with the U.S. and Australia collaborating on submarine maintenance in Western Australia and the integration of Australian sailors on U.S. vessels for hands-on training. This engagement is foundational to Australia’s strategic shift toward nuclear-powered assets, facilitated by continued technical exchanges and infrastructure investments, such as at HMAS Stirling.