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Cyber coordination, cruise missile co-production, and streamlined exports feature prominently among a raft of changes announced at the 40th Australia-US Ministerial Consultations this week.
Robert Dougherty & David Hollingworth
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Thu, 11 Dec 2025
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Government
Australia and the United States recently unveiled a package of new defence, economic and regional cooperation initiatives during the 40th Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), held in Washington DC on 8 December.
During the meeting, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong connected with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Among a host of defence-related announcements, close cooperation on cyber security matters was a key part of the discussion.
Both parties have agreed to establish a bilateral, interagency working group to combat online scam operations. Working with the US Congress, the US Department of State plans to invest more than US$10 million, and Australia will invest up to AU$10 million, including funding to hold another Pacific Cyber Week.
“Across every domain – air, sea and ground, but also space and cyber – (we are working) to have the most extensive American force posture that we have seen, in terms of the breadth of that, in the Australian continent,” Minister Marles said.
“And that is so important going forward to make very clear in our region that Australia and America stand side-by‑side in working together to contribute to the peace and security of the Indo‑Pacific. As we meet today, there are almost 900 Australian servicemen and women who are embedded in the United States defence forces across the US. Indeed, the deputy commanders of the US Army, US Navy and the US Air Force in the Pacific are all now institutionally Australian.”
Secretary Hegseth had previously spoken candidly about defence spending and infrastructure expectations that the US expects of its allies. The meeting was a crucial milestone, a first for both secretaries Rubio and Hegseth in their new roles since the successful October 2025 leaders’ meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Crucially, during the meeting, Secretary Hegseth endorsed a two-year roadmap for the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise with Australia, including co-production and co-sustainment of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, expanded sustainment of AIM-9X and Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and new cooperation on maritime strike and interceptor systems.
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