Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher on June 29 welcomed US troops to Australia for the two allies’ biggest joint military exercise, Talisman Saber.

Speaking onboard the USS Bonhomme Richard amphibious assault ship docked in Sydney, Fletcher said the biennial exercise was important for the two militaries to test their systems and demonstrate to the world the resources they have committed to self-defence.

“This tradition of our two militaries working together is long established, we have fought together in many wars, our alliance is very deep and based on shared values,” Fletcher said.

About 30,000 American and Australian service members were to part in the months-long exercise, mostly in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, near Rockhampton in central Queensland, according to the Australian Department of Defence. There will also be activity in the Mount Bundy Training Area south of Darwin, and military bases in the US. Twenty-one ships and 200 aircraft were to take part in the warfighting scenario, according to a US Army press release. Credit: YouTube/Paul Fletcher MP via Storyful