Iranian strikes on Israel reinforce the need for Australia to take dangers of the ‘new world’ seriously

This past weekend has been a bit of a wake-up call for many in Australia and more broadly across the globe.

For many in Australia, Iran’s waves of kamikaze drone and cruise missile attacks against Israel were largely overshadowed by the horrific attacks by a clearly troubled individual against people just going about their daily lives in Bondi, and rightfully so.

It goes without saying that our deepest condolences and prayers go to the families of the victims and eternal gratitude to the civilians and NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott for stepping forward to defend and help the innocent without thought for her own safety.

However, while the events of Bondi justifiably hit close to home, the implications of the Iranian attack on Israel, particularly that of the United States, have broader and more significant implications for the average Australian that seem to have been overlooked, or at least misunderstood.

For anyone watching closely, it is hard to be enthusiastic or confident in the single word warning, “Don’t” from US President Joe Biden to Iran prior to the launch of the kamikaze drones and cruise missiles.

With that lacklustre warning falling on deaf ears in Tehran, it is hard to see how despite a powerful US presence in the eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf area, any potential adversary can take America’s threat, whether implied or direct, seriously.

In the Australian context, this is particularly concerning as our place in the world and in particular, the Indo-Pacific, hinges on the enduring capacity, willingness and counter belief that the United States as the global strategic hegemon can be taken seriously by potential adversaries.

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Is this America’s ‘Emperor has no clothes‘ moment?

It pains me to ask this, but is this America’s “emperor has no clothes” moment and what do I mean by this?

I mean the moment that declared and potential adversaries alike realised that the US and its capacity and willingness to maintain the security of the global commons is now very clearly over and the threat of US repercussions is a risk worth taking, particularly if it means they can achieve long held objectives and ambitions.

But what does this have to do with Australia and our daily lives?

Well, simply put, this now means that the foundation of Australia’s economic, political and strategic security, stability and prosperity is now in question.

Australia’s dependence on the United States as its primary strategic benefactor since the collapse of the British Empire’s power in the region in 1942 has seen the nation and its people outsource the heavy lifting to the United States.

This has seen Australia and Australians both embrace and benefit from the post-Cold War “peace dividend” and “wars of choice” leaving us far removed from the dangerous reality of the world, instead favouring the theory of the “End of History” and the enduring march of liberal democratic values and norms across the globe.

The comforting lie that is Francis Fukuyama’s “End of History” theory has been embraced by successive Australian governments and the Australian public, who, for the most part, are detached from both history as a whole and the history of the 20th century.

After all, in the Lucky Country, how could we not?

Over the last four decades, generations of Australians have enjoyed an explosion in wealth and prosperity, long lives, and living standards that are the envy of the world and an isolation (for the most part) from the violent struggles common across the globe.

Yet as a people and a polity, we have, for the most part, failed to respond to the rapid deterioration in the global balance of power and the chickens are now coming home to roost.

But what does this have to do with the weekend’s events in the Middle East?

The deadly reality of our ‘new world order’

Without being hyperbolic, the willingness of Iran to ignore even a warning as milquetoast as that given by President Biden is a major mask slip moment. The same can be said for Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and Beijing’s now restricted economic warfare against Australia first launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What this mask slip moment reveals is that the assumptions made by Australian policymakers and the calculations we have made about our future economic prosperity, our strategic security and, indeed, our place in the world need to be recalculated.

Equally, a very real and serious conversation needs to be had in the open and directly with the Australian public in order to shake the otherwise disengaged and uninterested Australian people and this conversation needs to be devoid of political spin.

Time is rapidly running out to have this conversation with the Australian people, because if we don’t, we could find ourselves in a position similar to that of Israel with no real means of defending ourselves and our way of life.

Final thoughts

The rapidly deteriorating geopolitical and strategic environment that is transforming the global and regional security paradigm requires a realistic analysis, assessment, and acceptance by Australia’s policymakers.

Equally, both the Australian government and the Australian public have to accept and understand that we will need to dramatically increase spending in our national defence and do so over the long term, rather than short-term sugar hits or sleight of hand that push money out over the forward estimates and allow inflation to account for “increases” in spending, despite there being little-to-no new money in real terms.

If we are going to emerge as a prosperous, secure, and free nation in the new era of great power competition, it is clear we will need to break the shackles of short-termism and begin to think far more long term, to the benefit of current and future generations of Australians.

Get involved with the discussion and let us know your thoughts on Australia’s future role and position in the Indo-Pacific region and what you would like to see from Australia’s political leaders in terms of partisan and bipartisan agenda setting in the comments section below, or get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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