Australia won't be a base for US midrange missiles

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has confirmed Australia will not be used as a base for any planned US midrange missiles, following talks with American officials in Sydney.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said before the meetings he wanted to deploy intermediate-range conventional missiles at various Asia-Pacific sites within months, now that the Trump administration has withdrawn from an arms control treaty with Russia.

The move is likely to anger China.

But Reynolds confirmed Monday that Australia is not a potential location for the missiles.

Reynolds told ABC radio that Esper: "made no request, and that he wasn't anticipating any request" for Australia to be the base for any such missiles.