The United States-Australia alliance

The United States-Australia alliance has been an important component of the US-led hubs and spokes system of alliances in Asia that has underpinned regional security and stability in the region since 1945. However, geo-strategic developments since the end of the Cold War in 1989, in particular the rise of China, and its growing confidence and assertiveness, has posed significant challenges to this US-led regional order. In turn, the growing strategic competition between these two great powers has generated challenges to the long-standing US-Australia alliance. Both countries have to confront a changing strategic environment, and as a result, the alliance needs to respond to the challenges that they face. The United States cannot continue to take Australia for granted. It must understand the challenges and risks to this vital relationship, which is growing in importance, and take steps to manage it. On its part, Australia now needs to clearly identify its core common interests with the United States, and start exploring what more it really needs to do to match its stated policy preferences.