THE deployment of 2200 US Marines to Darwin is about to begin, with the first due to arrive within days.

This is 1000 more than last year’s force and just 300 less than the full compliment of 2500 in 2019.

Special COVID-19 plans, which include housing the US Marines at a “secure facility outside Darwin” for 14 days, have been drawn up for what will be the tenth Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D). The new head of Northern Command in Darwin, Colonel Marcus Constable, said the secure facility is not the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

“NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and I have discussed the extensive arrangements that have been put in place to manage the risk of COVID-19,” Senator Reynolds said. “... I thank the NT government for their continued support.”