US Marines arrive in Australia for annual rotation, begin 14-day quarantine

DARWIN, Australia — The first group of 200 U.S. Marines have arrived in tropical northern Australia for their annual rotation despite the coronavirus pandemic border closures.

Defense Minister Linda Reynolds said on Tuesday the Marines were tested for COVID-19 on arrival in Darwin and will be quarantined in military facilities for the next 14 days.

RELATED

Marine rotation to Australia delayed over COVID-19 concerns

The Pentagon recently ordered a 60-day stop-movement order that will impact exercises, deployments and permanent change-of-station moves. In all, nearly 90,000 troops will be impacted by the order.

By Shawn Snow

The ninth annual rotation was delayed this year by two months due to the pandemic. Only 1,200 Marines will come to Australia this year during the current dry season, fewer than half the 2,500 that participated last year.

The remaining Marines will arrive through July and leave in September before the monsoonal rains come.

The Northern Territory was declared coronavirus free almost two weeks ago, but its borders remain closed to non-essential travel.

All 30 COVID-19 cases detected in the Northern Territory were connected to interstate and overseas travel. All have since recovered.

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