A US publication has raised doubts the Territory will ever see the 2500 Marines President Barack Obama pledged to send to Darwin in 2013.

Marine Corps Times reported Tuesday that “it is not clear whether that goal will be met” and suggested the NT Government’s decision to lease the Darwin Port to Chinese-owned Landbridge Group has caused friction between the two nations.

“Darwin deployments have proven invaluable as the Pentagon looks to beef up regional security and response with an eye toward an expanding Chinese military,” it reported.

“However, the late 2015 lease of Darwin Port to Chinese-owned company Landbridge Group has caused a stir in the Pentagon, according to Australian media reports.”

Mr Obama last month reportedly told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull the US would have liked a “heads up” before the deal was signed.

“US and Australian defence leaders are looking to rotate a three-ship amphibious readiness group through the region, and perhaps a carrier strike group,” the report stated. “Darwin’s port would need to be expanded to host an amphibious assault ship and two dock landing ships.”