Australia agrees to role in US defense shield

"We believe that taking part in the US program will serve our strategic interest, help us defend Australia, and allow us to make an important contribution to global and regional security," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement.

Washington hopes to develop a shield against ballistic missiles, saying that "rogue states" like North Korea could soon have missiles to threaten the United States. It wants allies such as Britain and Australia involved in the project, particularly for the use of satellite tracking stations in their countries. Critics say the technology for such shields -- dubbed "Son of Star Wars" -- is complex, unreliable, and expensive, but worse, the plans could spark a new arms race.

Australia has been one of Washington's staunchest allies over the past several years, pledging troops to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and stating clearly that its relationship with the United States is central to the nation's long-term interest. Downer said the nature of Australia's participation "will depend on many factors including our own strategic defense needs, regional considerations, industry capabilities, and financial considerations."

Defense Minister Robert Hill said Canberra will probably help in research for the multibillion-dollar project and has no plans for a ground-based missile defense system on Australian soil. It may incorporate a missile defense system into three planned air warfare destroyers for the Australian Navy.

"We have given that careful consideration, and we think that we can play a part, obviously a small part in terms of the massive overall program," Hill said. "We think that with the proliferation of long-range missiles and trends towards proliferation of mass destruction warheads, it is a sensible decision for Australia to take."