Australia and the World - Essay Example

Australia’s bilateral relationship with the United s has been driven primarily by our security needs. Discuss Lecturer: Introduction Second World War experience, similarities in culture and historical background as well as having shared values ensures relations between US and Australia are strong and close. The longstanding friendship between the two nations is reinforced by the common interest and similar views on international concerns. However, both the Australian government and the opposition acknowledge that the country’s security relies on firm ties with the U.S (Leahy, 2013). This is underlined by the US-Australia alliance introduced through the ANZUS treaty, which has been effective and is supplemented by consultations between US combatant commander and Australian head of defence forces. Although Australia may not need boots on the ground, the country can do little without support from US especially US intelligence, logistics, material and technical support (Lee, 2013). Although Australia has ships and planes, the country is unable to operate them without source codes and software updates; navigation and targeting information that only the United States can provide. As well, the country requires ammunition and maintenance sourced from the US, making hard for the country to achieve military self-reliance. Not only does the country require support in extreme events but also in almost every event since there a few military situations the country can operate independently. Although the bilateral relationship between Australia and USA is strong and benefits both nations, Australia remains the main beneficiary. For instance, the stability and security that US presence offers the Asia-Pacific region is an essential foundation for Australia’s security and progress. According to Leahy (2013), Australia remains close to America to a point that Australia cannot afford losing US support. Therefore, ensuring that US support is guaranteed remains an essential element in the country’s decisions making. This is highlighted by the US quest for enhanced presence in Australian bases, which the Australian leadership considers to be reasonable and manageable. The country associates the bilateral relation with access, training and maintenance because the relationship has enabled the country to gain from ‘joint bases’ like the increased presence of marines in Darwin (Leahy, 2013). According to Bell and Bell (2010), various studies attempt to offer details regarding Australia’s post-war reliance on the powerful and capitalist ally. Australia’s dependence on external relations especially with regard to diplomatic and military alignment toward America has led to essential economic and cultural component. Hence, American values and policies have entangled not only Australia’s external conduct but also its economic and political life. According to Bell and Bell (2010), mass media portray Australia as a ‘satellite society’ for metropolitan America and as an ideological and economic victim of Americanization or even a ‘client state’ for the US. However, this has not always been the case for Australia to rely on America because after becoming a federal state, Australia relied on England for economic, political and militarily gains. Within a decade after becoming an independent state, Australia had to address external realities that challenged the country’s survival within the potentially unfriendly geopolitical environment. During this period, Australia realized that its traditional ties with England were no longer adequate in addressing the regional isolation and vulnerability. However, prior to the US acknowledging its national interests required formal security association with Australia, Australia remained tethered to England although the connections were not satisfying to the nation’s leaders. In 1908, Australia welcomed the Great White [US] Fleet with racial concerns as well as regional vulnerabilities regarding the nation’s future (Bell and Bell, 2010). According to Bell and Bell (2010), the presence of US fleet offered an opportunity for peaceful development while inevitably bringing mutual protection for both US and Australia interests. Nevertheless, Australian quest for closer strategic ties with the U.S never dented the nation’s affection for England; as well, the nation’s strong nationalism never decreased its significance in the quest for American protection. Therefore at least for a century, Australian search for security has been established by increased economic as well as cultural links to the U.S. Besides, Australia tries to maintain its national culture although it is influenced by American products, notion and practices like any other English-speaking society (Bell & Bell, 2010). Fresh agreements between US and Australia point out Washington willingness to invest in Australian security. Moreover, the close relationship with U.S allows the transfer of high-tech products from US to Australia because Australia acquires 50% of its defence equipment from the US. One of the main reason Propelling the US-Australia alliance is the treaty referred to as ANZUS (Australia-New Zealand-United States) that forms the bedrock for Australian security since it allows bipartisan political support. ANZUS treaty is constantly reinterpreted so as to cater for new and emerging threats and challenges to the interest of both nations; hence, the treaty forms a basis for a comprehensive and meaningful alliance not only for justifying security guarantees but also protecting Australia against any major power. Moreover, the treaty facilitates sharing of intelligence as well as military technologies, which makes the bilateral relationship between US and Australia the most significant defence relation that is acknowledged by Australia’s National Security Strategy as an essential element in the nation’s security arrangements (Lee, 2013). The security and other benefits Australia receives from the bilateral relationship with US are not for free because for the last several decades the country has been ensuring that it remains a valued ally for Washington through offering political, strategic as well as military support (LEE, 2013). Hence, it is not a coincidence that Australia is the only ally that has always supported the US in all of its military campaigns after the Second World War. America certainly expects diplomatic and military support from Australia for any maritime military action carried out by the US in East or even South East Asia. The bilateral relationship allows Australia to have access to competencies, intelligence and even capability that the country could not produce on its own. Australian defence tends to adopt a predominantly “risk management” approach to Southeast Asia that indicates that the country ensures it has adequate military capabilities in controlling and containing risks to Australia’s interests in case of adverse developments in the region (Lee, 2013). The US plays a significant role in security and prosperity within the Asia-Pacific region; as well, the US’s presence and its leadership function in addressing security challenges offer an indispensable underpinning to the region’s stability. ANZUS alliance plays a significant role in ensuring that the US engagement strongly contributes to the stability in the region coupled by US’s exemplary capability in the campaign against terrorism. The US commits to adjusting military capabilities in Asia-Pacific to ensure relevance of the military within the changing strategic needs. Through the bilateral relation with US, Australia obtains substantial benefit from political connections, intelligence exchanges and access to advanced technology from the world’s finest military power (Downer, 2005). The US support for Australian engagement in Asia-Pacific region offer Australia a basis for cooperatively tackling challenges that pose serious threat to the nation’s prevailing and future security (Capling, 2008). Australian dependence on US is barely surprising given the lop-sidedness in power, affluence and influence (Cox & OConnor, 2012). Australia strengthens its strategic connection with the US while enjoying strong commercial ties that culminate in Australia’s enthusiastic response to US’s strategic interest in the Asia-Pacific region. Security concerns for Australia are mainly considered through the perspective of maritime security with high priority on the nation’s sovereign control of the huge economic zone. Majority of Australian trade is carried out by ship, which increases the significance of maintaining viable sea routes with the help of US. The history of piracy in the region led to the increased involvement of the country’s defence forces and US ships in patrolling the ocean and offering a rationale for Australia’s expansion of its navy (The Future of the Australian-U.S. Security Relationship, 2005). Conclusion Australia remains a significant ally for the US because it engages in challenging global missions; however, Australia works hard in strengthening the relation between itself and the US because of the benefits it gets from the relationship. Strategic similarities for the nations are portrayed by their military practices, which have propelled Australia to be one of the important allies for the US across the globe and certainly the closest security partner in Asia-pacific region. The enhanced Australia-US bilateral defence relation helps secure US commitment to Australia, which in return allows Australia indispensible and cost-effective access to American technology resulting in economic and diplomatic pay offs that were previously beyond Australia’s reach. Australia’s strategic role and influence are increasingly dependent on American power and capabilities; moreover, with the shifting complexity in security environment, Australia has been valuing its relations with US in fighting terrorism. American affiliation with Australia has been essential in securing Australia and equipping the nation with necessary resources for securing the nation’s territory. Close relation with US allows Australia to secure its territory, which poses great risks because of the strategic geography that increases exposure to competition and even conflict. Therefore, the close relationship between Australia and US helps Australia foster its securing in a region that is prone to intense competition and even strong conflict. References Bell, P., & Bell, R. (2010). Cultural shifts, changing relationships: Australia and the United States. Australian Cultural History, 28(2-3), 283-297. Capling, A. (2008). Twenty years of Australias engagement with Asia. The Pacific Review, 21(5), 601-622. Cox, L., & OConnor, B. (2012). Australia, the US, and the Vietnam and Iraq Wars: ‘Hound Dog, not Lapdog’. Australian Journal Of Political Science, 47(2), 173-187. doi:10.1080/10361146.2012.677004 Downer, A. (2005). Securing Australias interests--Australian foreign policy priorities. Australian Journal Of International Affairs, 59(1), 7-12. doi:10.1080/1035771042000331995 Leahy, P. (2013). REBALANCING AUSTRALIAS NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITIES. Policy, 29(3), 37-41. Lee, J. (2013). Australias 2015 Defence White Paper: Seeking Strategic Opportunities in Southeast Asia to Help Manage Chinas Peacefiil Rise. Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal Of International & Strategic Affairs, 35(3), 395-422. doi:10.1355/cs35-3d The Future of the Australian-U.S. Security Relationship. (2005). Air & Space Power Journal, 19(3), 112. Read More