Prime Minister Tony Abbott may be far apart from US President Barack Obama on the issues of the environment and global warming, but the two leaders are in complete agreement over expanding Australia’s defense cooperation with the United States.

The two revealed “additional agreements” covering US forces in the Northern Territory to supplement the deal reached with former PM Julia Gillard in 2011.

“In addition to the marines that are now in Darwin and the rotations that have been established, we actually have arrived at additional agreements around force postures that will enhance the bilateral cooperation between our militaries and give us additional reach throughout this very important part of the world.  And we’re grateful for the cooperation there,” Obama said.

About 1,150 marines are deployed at the “marine air ground task force” with a full contingent of 2,500 scheduled to be deployed by 2016-17.

Abbott assured the US President that “Australia will be an utterly dependable ally of the United States.  The United States has had to bear many burdens, many burdens.  The United States has paid a very high price to secure freedom and prosperity for many countries – not just itself – and the United States should never have to do all that work on its own.”