American-Australian Security Policies: The Current Phase

Abstract

HE CARTER ADMINISTRATION has set out to review and, as I needed, recast American foreign and defense policies. It has tried to shift away from East-West to North-South concerns and from more strictly military to economic instruments, and to encourage international observance of human rights. In Asia, it has undertaken to avoid upsetting the power equilibrium and to honor essential treaty arrangements, but has eschewed an offshore security posture while stressing self-reliance by regional states. Transitions in American policy are of great interest to Australia which, in addition to its Asian-Pacific setting, is a nation with intimate links to the United States, as through the ANZUS treaty alliance, through the presence of sophisticated American defense facilities on Australian soil, and through trade and investment channels. American and Australian security interests in the area have continued to be broadly parallel. However, under the Liberal-National Country Party (L-NCP) Government led by Malcolm Fraser, Australia has been especially unnerved by changes in the power equation and by the generally unsettled atmosphere in its regional environment. It has reasoned that the heaviest burden of responsibility continues to fall on American leadership, will and preparedness. It understands the reduced American involvement in Asia but feels that this trend places a premium on the need for America not to lose interest, miscalculate the effects of its retraction, or otherwise forget the complex and interlocking stresses throughout the Indian-Pacific region. The Australian government has therefore sought clarifications and reformulations in American policy. This paper will highlight the interplay of U.S.-Australian policies, with special focus on subregional contexts, and will conclude by assessing some of the factors that characterize the alliance.