The international spotlight will turn to Rockingham next week when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tours HMAS Stirling.

The Sound Telegraph understands Mrs Clinton will visit Garden Island with Prime Minister Julia Gillard as part of her two-day visit to Perth next Tuesday.

The visit will mean an increased police presence in the area, including Australian Federal Police.

The US Secretary of State will be accompanied by US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta who will both attend the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations at Kings Park next Wednesday.

Increasing the number of visits by US warships to HMAS Stirling is expected to be raised by the US with their Australian counterparts during the visit.

Mrs Clinton is expected to raise the issue with Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr and Defence Minister Stephen Smith.

It will be Ms Gillard’s second visit to the region in as many months after hosting a community cabinet in Medina in September.