"The potential for AUKUS," said US Congressman Mike Gallagher this month, "from the undersea domain, to munitions and critical technologies, to logistics – is limited only by our willpower and our imagination.”

Congressman Gallagher, Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, the AUKUS Working Group, and Chairman of the Select Committee on China, visited Australia earlier this month. This followed a series of initiatives designed to increase interoperability between Australia and the United States, and our allies in the region, as Australia takes on a greater role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Today, Australia hosts the final day of Exercise Malabar, a joint military exercise among Australia, Japan, India and the United States. This follows Australia hosting the largest ever Talisman Sabre, with over 34,000 military personnel from 13 countries participating in the largest iteration of the joint military exercise, now in its tenth year. The tragic loss of life of four Australian Defence Force personnel is a solemn reminder of the sacrifice that endures from all who serve our nations, and the danger they face each day in service to their countries.

To support returning servicemen and women transitioning to civilian careers, AmCham invites you to join the Give a Vet a Go initiative, which advocates for organisations to consider the diverse capabilities and applicable experiences of veterans and their spouses.

The organisational, logistical, military and diplomatic coordination for these sophisticated and complex joint military exercises, which our servicemen and women carry out with the utmost professionalism and capability, exemplifies the increasing asymmetric advantage that Australia and the United States have over adversaries - a strong and robust network of allies. US President Joe Biden has recognised Australia's indispensable alliance, inviting PM Albanese to Washington DC for a State Visit.

Following the success of the annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Brisbane, and the historic commissioning of the USS Canberra in Sydney Harbour, the White House will literally roll out the red carpet for the State Visit to mark the ever-growing significance of the US-Australia alliance.

The US-Australia economic and strategic relationship has never been closer. I have said this before, and each time, it soars to new heights. Over the coming weeks, AmCham is giving you unique opportunities to take part.