This month, Commander Faith Gamboa of the US Coast Guard will lead a team - of which about 90 per cent are reservists - who hail from Clearwater, Florida.

“This is the first time a Port Security unit has ever been to Darwin, ever been to the Indian Ocean,” she said.

“So this is a big thing for the US government.”

While it is rare for the US Coast Guard to partake in a large, international military exercise, Commander Gamboa said she saw potential to test her troops in the waters of Darwin Harbour and beyond.

Exercise Talisman Sabre will run from 13 July to 4 August.

With more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations about to participate in one of our nation’s largest ever war games exercises, Australian Defence has warned of the increased military activity.

Australia will host Exercise Talisman Sabre from 13 July to 4 August with significant areas of the Northern Territory involved.

Talisman Sabre locations include:

Northern Territory Defence Bases/Training Areas: HMAS Coonawarra; Larrakeyah Defence Precinct; Defence Estate Berrimah; Robertson Barracks; RAAF Base Darwin; RAAF Base Tindal; Bradshaw Field Training Area; Mt Bundy Training Area; Delamere Air Weapons Range; Darwin; Katherine; Bootu Creek; Timber Creek and Roper River region.

“We ask the community to be aware, but not alarmed by these activities,” Defence said in a statement.

Australians should expect more US troops on our soil, Defence Minister Richard Marles has told the Latika Takes podcast.

As part of AUKUS, the United States will start operating its own nuclear-capable submarines out of HMAS Stirling in Perth in 2027.

Mr Hegseth has said in several readouts after speaking to or meeting Mr Marles that they have discussed “accelerating US force posture initiatives in Australia.”

Asked if this meant a greater US military presence in Australia, Mr Marles confirmed it would grow but did not think that would be controversial or surprising.

Former Home Affairs boss and author of the 2009 Defence White Paper Mike Pezzullo, recently wrote in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s The Strategist, that while the US did not have a significant number of troops in Australia, they were creating the infrastructure for a surge.

The Coalition frontbencher is also urging the Labor government explain what role Australia might play backing US combat operations launched from this country. 

"if we're going to have this close friendship going forward, it's really important to understand exactly what that means."

Australia has welcomed the 14th rotation of the United States Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) to the Northern Territory, marking another milestone in the long-standing defence partnership between the two nations.

Approximately 2,500 US Marines and sailors will take part in combined training operations with the ADF and regional partners throughout this rotation. The program will see participation in major exercises across Australia and the Indo-Pacific, including Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

Talisman Sabre, Australia’s largest military exercise since World War II, will involve participation from 19 nations.