“The cold, hard truth” of the strategic situation in the Pacific and honest conversations on key issues including the AUKUS submarines deal and the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency are on the agenda at a defence industry conference in Adelaide.
More than 1100 delegates from around the world have converged on the Adelaide Convention Centre for MAST 2024, with Adelaide the first southern hemisphere city to host the international maritime, air and space technologies event in its 18-year history.
Former Commander of US Forces in Japan, Lieutenant General Jerry P Martinez, who was in the role during Mr Trump’s first presidency, said in the interactions he had with the US president-elect, he found that he understood the importance of alliances and friendships and partnerships.
“I think he's going to examine the benefit (of AUKUS) for the United States as well as the other countries that are involved,” he said.
“And I have the fullest confidence he'll make a very pragmatic decision to ensure that Australia, Japan, the United States and all the other countries involved, remain safe and secure.”
There are fears that a Trump presidency could scuttle the AUKUS deal to deliver a nuclear submarine capability for Australia through a security partnership with the US and UK.
The US will sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia from the early 2030s, ahead of new submarines being built in Adelaide.
Gatherings like the MAST conference were an opportunity for “good, honest conversation”, Mr Martinez said.
“It's where you talk about the critical things that are going to ensure that all of our countries, and not just our countries individually, but the region itself at large, remain safe and secure,” he said.
“We're here to look at the cold, hard truth of what is the strategic situation in the Pacific.”
There were barricades outside the convention centre and a strong police presence on Tuesday morning, but there were no protesters.
The conference is themed Talent, Technologies, Transfer, and is exploring issues of relevance to the Indo-Pacific region including AUKUS, the Trump presidency and cybersecurity.
Keynote speakers include Royal Australian Navy Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Mr Martinez, and Director General of Naval Systems, Japanese Ministry of Defence Vice Admiral Imayoshi Shinichi.
More than 1100 delegates are attending, mostly representing governments, defence and research organisations from 46 countries including the UK, the US, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Italy and Japan.
