Google is planning to build a powerful artificial intelligence data centre on Christmas Island, a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, following a cloud services agreement signed earlier this year with the Australian Department of Defence. The initiative, which has not been publicly disclosed until now, is part of a broader effort to enhance Australia’s digital infrastructure and strategic surveillance capabilities in the region.
Located approximately 350 kilometers south of Indonesia, Christmas Island is increasingly viewed by defence officials as a critical outpost for monitoring Chinese submarine and naval activity in the Indian Ocean. The proposed data centre is expected to support AI-enabled military command and control operations, although specific details regarding its size, cost, and technical specifications remain confidential.
According to documents reviewed by Reuters and statements from local officials, Google is in advanced negotiations to lease land near the island’s airport for the construction of the facility. The company is also working on securing energy resources through a deal with a local mining company, ensuring the data centre’s operational sustainability.
The project stems from a three-year cloud computing agreement signed in July 2025 between Google and Australia’s defence department. This partnership is aimed at modernizing defence infrastructure and integrating advanced AI capabilities into national security frameworks.
Military experts have noted that the location offers strategic advantages for surveillance and data processing, especially in light of rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The deployment of such a facility could significantly bolster Australia’s defence readiness and technological edge.
While Google has not issued an official statement, the initiative reflects the company’s growing involvement in sovereign cloud services and defence-related digital transformation. Local authorities on Christmas Island have expressed support for the project, citing potential economic and infrastructural benefits for the island’s small population.
