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Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has used her first official visit to the US as Defence Minister to lobby the US government to do more in the Indo-Pacific – the Minister’s address to the Hudson Institute urged the US to listen to its regional partners, while recognising the limitations of US power in an increasingly competitive world.
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Australia’s earliest strategic relationship with the British Empire established a foundation of dependence that would characterise all of the nation’s future defence and national security relationships both in the Indo-Pacific and the wider world.
As British power slowly declined following the First World War and the US emerged as the pre-eminent economic, political and strategic power during the Second World War, Australia became dependent on "Pax Americana" or the American Peace and the 'guarantee' of US tactical and strategic support in the event of any threat to the nation.
However, this dependence upon the US was different to its prior incarnation, with Australia emerging from the Second World War as a potent middle power, one 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 the nation'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 – in the form of the ANZUS Treaty signed between the US, Australia and New Zealand in San Francisco in 1951.
The formalisation of the relationship came amid the height of the Korean conflict. The growing threat of communist insurgency in south-east Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia and Vietnam, and the successful Communist Revolution in China served to drive Australian political, strategic and public concerns about the nation's enduring stability and security just years following the defeat of Imperial Japan.
Australia's support of the US in both Korea and Vietnam during the Cold War entrenched the nation as one of America's most reliable regional and global allies and one essential to the enduring stability of the Indo-Pacific – one that is more relevant now than ever.
Recognising this, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has used her first official trip to the US as Minister for Defence to reaffirm the unique relationship between the two nations, while using it as a platform to lobby the US government to take a greater role in the Indo-Pacific region and directly challenge the rapidly deteriorating geo-political, economic and strategic environment.
"But let me very blunt up front – our collective challenge is to establish a rules-based order, one that is fit-for-purpose in the 21st century. One that continues to deliver regional and global peace and also prosperity," Minister Reynolds said.
Australia's view of the world
In advocating for an increased US role within the region, Minister Reynolds established Australia's view of the Indo-Pacific region and the way in which the environment is evolving, saying, "Australia is very clear-eyed about three key implications from these developments. The first key regional implication is that the benign strategic environment that we’ve been long accustomed to is no more. It is not coming back. Australia’s strategic environment is now more contested – across all three oceans.
"What is more, it is being contested in ways that go well beyond the conventional military terms I have just alluded to. Economic coercion, foreign interference, use of civil militias and cyber attacks are among the sorts of tools and measures we have seen employed. Employed to avoid direct conflict and preserve a veneer of deniability in pursuing strategic objectives."
The rising superpower, China, and its ambition and designs for regional dominance served as one of Minister Reynolds' key focal points – in particular, the continuing strategic, economic and political competition between the US and China is of paramount attention for Australia as the nation is increasingly confronted by having to choose between its economic and strategic partner.
"The second key regional implication is that China matters in ways that will require clear and deft handling. China’s economic dynamism and our trade complementarities make Australia and China natural economic partners for securing the prosperity of our respective nations.
"This also applies to broadening and intensifying our partnership where it can bring benefits for the region. Because China’s engagement is vital for strengthening institutions that underpin the free flow of trade and investment and increase security for our people. Australia is focused on ensuring that China’s engagement – like any other country’s – augments, not hinders, those institutions’ ability to operate as fora for equitable decision-making with tangible, positive impacts.
"We will also seek to co-operate with China wherever we can to enhance regional security. We do so from a clear position that our values are what define us as a nation, and that maintenance of them is not negotiable," Minister Reynolds articulated.
A call for a greater US presence in the Indo-Pacific
Australia's unique relationship of strategic dependence on the US figures strongly in the Minister's address, with the alliance the cornerstone of the nation's record period of economic, political and strategic stability, recognising this, Minister Reynolds called for greater US attention and presence in the Indo-Pacific.
"The United States has been key to the Indo-Pacific success story – for both peace and the prosperity. And the future of both hinge on sustaining and deepening US engagement. US military power – bolstered by sophisticated alliance networks with Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Thailand – has long underwritten the region’s peace and security," she said.
"But this is about more than committing military strength, as crucial as this has been and will continue to be. It is about fostering economic growth and strengthening democratic institutions. Doing it in ways that empower nations – small and large – to freely make their own sovereign choices. US investment in the region, and the attraction of US soft power, play a vital role to this end. They are of equal interest to me as the Minister for Defence as is allied hard power. Our Defence men and women are superb ambassadors for our nation."
Expanding on this, Minister Reynolds reflected the Australian government's insistence on a strengthened US presence in the region, stating: "The Indo-Pacific, and the particular nature of its emerging security challenges, cannot afford alliances and partnerships that are not mission-focused and appropriately resourced. Australia is strongly committed to working with the United States as detailed in our respective and complementary Indo-Pacific strategies and commitment to regional institutions.
"To that end, Prime Minister Morrison recently announced that Australia and the United States would develop a new mechanism to align and strengthen co-ordination of our Indo-Pacific strategies. This will serve not only to bolster our alliance architecture, but also to better focus its activities for greater effect. Further, the alliance needs to be not just in the region – it must be of the region, and be seen as for the region. All countries in the Indo-Pacific have sovereignty at the core of their national interest."
Your thoughts
The nation is defined by its relationship with the region, with access to the growing economies and to strategic sea-lines-of-communication supporting over 90 per cent of global trade, a result of the cost-effective and reliable nature of sea transport.
Indo-Pacific Asia is at the epicentre of the global maritime trade, with about US$5 trillion worth of trade flowing through the South China Sea and the strategic waterways and chokepoints of south-east Asia annually.
For Australia, a nation defined by this 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 geopolitical, economic and strategic interests, places the nation at the centre of the 21st century's 'great game'.
Enhancing Australia’s capacity to act as an independent power, incorporating great power-style strategic economic, diplomatic and military capability serves as a powerful symbol of Australia’s sovereignty and evolving responsibilities in supporting and enhancing the security and prosperity of Indo-Pacific Asia.
Shifting the public discussion away from the default Australian position of "it is all a little too difficult, so let’s not bother" will yield unprecedented economic, diplomatic, political and strategic opportunities for the nation.
Get involved with the discussion and let us know your thoughts on Australia's future role and position in the Indo-Pacific and what you would like to see from Australia's political leaders in terms of shaking up the nation's approach to our regional partners.
We would also like to hear your thoughts on the avenues Australia should pursue to support long-term economic growth and development in support of national security 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.
