Defence Minister Richard Marles says the United States, not Australia, will decide how long its nuclear-powered submarines will remain at Perth’s HMAS Stirling naval base based on American “operational requirements”. Under the AUKUS Optimal Pathway, US and British submarines will first deploy to WA’s HMAS Stirling from next year, before Australia begins to receive second-hand Virginia-class boats in the early 2030s. “It is a rotation presence at HMAS Stirling, but those rotations are a function of the operations which will be undertaken by the submarines”. Shadow defence minister James Paterson claimed there was growing uneasiness inside the Albanese government over the impending arrival of US personnel in Australia for AUKUS submarine rotations. A new US military hub began operations at HMAS Stirling naval base earlier this year ahead of the arrival of hundreds of American personnel for the start of AUKUS submarine rotations in 2027.