As Helwig appeared before rolling news cameras last month at Sydney's Garden Island naval base, tethered next door was the US Navy's newest vessel, the USS Canberra, which became the first US warship to be commissioned in a foreign port.
Just in case anybody missed the point, the Canberra has a star-spangled kangaroo affixed to its side and the promise of an Australian naval officer always being part of its 80-odd mission crew.
"I can think of no better symbol of this shared future," said the US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, joining in the back-slapping as Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, mingled with his US counterparts.
This story is from the August 26, September 1 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
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This story is from the August 26, September 1 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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