Japanese forces are set to commence regular deployments in northern Australia as part of a military collaboration with Australia and the United States, announced Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles on Sunday.

Currently, approximately 2,000 U.S. Marines are stationed in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, for a six-month period each year, reflecting increasing apprehension among Washington and its allies regarding China’s expanding military influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Today, we are revealing that Japan’s amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade will have regular deployments to Australia,” Marles stated during a televised press conference in Darwin, where he was joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani.

Marles emphasized the importance of enhanced training opportunities with Japan and the U.S., describing it as a significant advancement for Australia’s defense capabilities in an interview with Sky News on Sunday, as per a transcript.

This deployment holds particular historical importance, as Darwin served as a crucial base for Allied forces during World War II and experienced extensive bombing by Japanese forces. The air raids on this port city are often likened to Australia’s Pearl Harbor.

Austin expressed confidence on Sunday that the U.S. would fulfill the commitments outlined in the AUKUS agreement, which includes Australia acquiring U.S. nuclear submarines and collaborating with the U.S. and Britain to develop a new class of nuclear-powered submarines.

The U.S. Defense Department is concentrating on ensuring a “smooth and effective transition” to the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to Austin.

Austin expressed pride in the achievements of the current administration over the past four years, particularly in enhancing alliances and collaborating with nations that advocate for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The trilateral meeting held on Sunday in Darwin, involving Australia, the U.S., and Japan, marks the 14th such gathering among these allies. During the previous trilateral meeting in Singapore in June, the countries voiced significant concerns regarding security in the East China Sea and condemned “any destabilizing and coercive unilateral actions” in the area, implicitly referring to China.

In September, China, which has been expanding its military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, conducted a rare test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in the Pacific Ocean. This test launch raised alarms among several Pacific nations, including Australia.