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As Australia and the US prepare for the kick-off of the Talisman Sabre 2019 joint exercises, it is important to recognise the alliance and friendship between the two nations and how it will need to evolve in the face of a rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific century.
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Australia emerged from the Second World War as a middle power, essential to maintaining the post-war economic, political and strategic power paradigm established and led by the US – this relationship, established as a result of the direct threat to Australia, replaced Australia's strategic relationship of dependence on the British Empire and continues to serve as the basis of the nation's strategic policy direction and planning.
However, Australia's relationship with the US pre-dates the Allied response to Imperial Japan's blitzkrieg through south-east Asia. Just months before the end of the First World War, Australian's led an allied offensive against a resurgent Germany following the collapse of the Eastern Front, with US troops forming a key component of now famous Australian general Sir John Monash's counter attack at Hamel.
Fast forward to the aftermath of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour and the crushing defeat of the British forces in the Pacific following the fall of Singapore in 1942, and the relationship between these two formerly British colonies began to take shape, establishing two anchors on either side of the Pacific for the Allied counter thrust in the Pacific.
The post-Second World War emergence of the US as the pre-eminent global power, replacing the British Empire, saw a dramatic shift in Australia's strategic arrangements as the nation recognised the limitations of the British Empire. In response, Australia's support of the US in both Korea and Vietnam during the Cold War entrenched Australia as one of America's most reliable allies and essential to the enduring stability of the Indo-Pacific.
Indeed, new Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds recently highlighted the enduring importance of the relationship between the US and Australia in light of mounting regional and global challenges to the post-Second World War international rules-based order, telling the ASPI International Conference: War in 2025, "We are now in our second century of mateship with the US. That matters a great deal. Today this relationship is not just about our mutual support obligations, enshrined in the ANZUS treaty. Rather, it is about ensuring the alliance is more focused on, and responsive to, shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific."
Southeast Indo-Pacific Asia's strategic anchor
Australia is uniquely located, straddling both the Indian and Pacific Ocean at the very edge of south-east Asia, enhancing the nation's status as the key regional ally for the US – with Australia increasingly dependent upon the economic stability and growth of major established and emerging economic, political and strategic Indo-Pacific powers, namely China, Japan, India, Korea and smaller nations.
The 2016 Defence White Paper and the ensuing series of industry development and capability development plans have reinforced the recognition of Australia's position within the future of the US-led world order, aptly identified by Minister Reynolds, who took the opportunity to resolutely reaffirm the Australian government's commitment to economic liberalisation, regional partnerships and the maintenance of the rules-based order, clearly defining what it means to Australia in the modern context:
- Actively upholding international law;
- Reinforcing, not undermining, the work of multilateral institutions;
- Acting responsibly and transparently in assisting other countries;
- Enforcing sanctions in response to rogue behaviour;
- Not misusing technology under the cloak of deniability; and
- Punishing terrorists discriminately.
"Australia will always identify with rules-based systems and work actively to support them. This does not mean – and let me be clear about this – this does not mean that we want to preserve the past as a way of shaping the future, far from it. For rules are strengthened by being adapted to new realities. New rules also need to be written, especially in relation to potentially disruptive technologies that have advanced faster than have regulations governing their use," Minister Reynolds added.
This direct and enduring commitment positions Australia as an essential component for the US' broader Indo-Pacific strategy in the face of increasingly assertive territorial ambitions of totalitarian powers, namely China in the Indo-Pacific and the continuing resurgence of Putin's Russia and its own territorial and strategic ambitions in Europe and, to a lesser-extent, the Pacific.
Despite this enduring commitment, serious questions remain for Australia in the new world order of President Donald Trump's America, as a number of allies have been targeted by the maverick President for relying on the US for their security against larger state-based actors, which has seen the President actively pressuring key allies, particularly NATO allies, to renegotiate the deals.
For Australia, a nation defined by its relationship with traditionally larger, yet economically weaker regional neighbours, the growing economic prosperity of the region and corresponding arms build up, combined with ancient and more recent enmities, competing geo-political, economic and strategic interests, places the nation at the centre of the 21st century's 'great game'.
Australia’s security and prosperity are directly influenced by the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific, meaning Australia must be directly engaged as both a benefactor and leader in all matters related to strategic, economic and political security, serving as either a replacement or complementary force to the role played by the US – should the US commitment or capacity be limited.
Get involved with the discussion and let us know your thoughts on Australia's future role and position in the broader US alliance structure and the Indo-Pacific more broadly in the comments section below, or get in touch with
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.
