A former New Zealand Defence Minister believes the US is deadly serious about locating into the Pacific. 

The US has declared it will accelerate its military presence in Australia following meetings between the Australian Defence Minister and American counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington DC. 

About a thousand US Navy personnel are set to be based near Perth from next year to support American submarines operating out of nearby naval bases. 

Former Minister Wayne Mapp told Mike Hosking the Pacific is a long-term issue for the US, and it needs Australia as the bulwark to kind of underpin defence. 

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