By John Sherman
Australia stands at a crossroads, facing mounting pressure from an AUKUS partnership that increasingly compromises its sovereignty. The trilateral agreement with the United States and United Kingdom, initially framed as a strategic alliance to bolster regional security, has evolved into a complex web of demands that risks binding Australia to U.S. interests for decades. This shift raises serious concerns about our foreign policy autonomy and economic relationships with key trading partners, particularly China.
The original AUKUS framework promised mutual benefit, but recent U.S.-driven stipulations have tilted the balance, treating Australia as a subordinate rather than an equal partner. Australians are expressing a growing unease: AUKUS is now a leash on our independence. The agreement’s expanding scope now threatens to dictate Australia’s foreign policy, potentially straining ties with Asia-Pacific neighbours vital to our economy. This is not the partnership we signed up for.
Defence Minister Richard Marles must take a firmer stance. His apparent acquiescence to these demands undermines Australia’s interests. If he cannot renegotiate terms that prioritise our sovereignty, he should step aside for leadership capable of navigating this complex geopolitical landscape. Australia deserves a minister who can assert our position as a confident middle power, not one tethered to U.S. policy.
The Trump administration’s approach, as seen in its dealings with African nations, offers a cautionary tale. Countries like Nigeria and South Africa have rejected similar U.S. agreements laden with restrictive conditions, opting instead for partnerships that respect their autonomy. Australia should take note. Our alliances must serve our national interests, not entangle us in great-power rivalries that destabilise the region.
Global challenges – climate change, resource scarcity, and economic recovery – demand unity, not division. Australia must champion a future where nations collaborate as equals, not as pawns in a superpower’s strategy. By reevaluating AUKUS and asserting our independence, we can lead by example, fostering a world that prioritises collective progress over zero-sum conflicts. The time for bold, principled leadership is now.
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AUKUS was a bad deal right from the start. Committing to a possible conflict some time in the future, by buying weapons (subs) we will get some time in the future, makes little sense to any tight thinking person.
Worse, being told how to spent our money and who to love or hate would make our country subservient to the ideology of others.
Australia has no independent foreign policy apparatus. Our foreign policy is determined by US and UK interests that are driven by the military industrial complexes of the US, UK and to a lesser extent, Europe. The AUKUS project was an ego driven thought bubble of Morrison’s creation that had no consideration for the aspirations of the Australian electorate. Morrison (and Pyne) have now faded into obscurity leaving us with a legacy that is bankrupting the future of the next generation of Australian citizens whilst destroying all efforts to achieve detente with China.
A growing number of Australians acknowledge and agree with the sentiments here, as do I but is there any evidence the government is listening?
Most people see the sense of trying to move away from our defence reliance on the US and our trade reliance on China.
Trump has proved to be an unreliable and erratic strategic partner.
Xi has proved to be unreasonably intolerant of criticism.
Despite these significant problems, change has to be carefully planned, policy changes via a megaphone aren’t in Australia’s interests.
I think the federal government is treading this difficult path with competence
No hope until we get rid of mealy-mouthed sycophant-to-America Richard Marles.
Yep,we all know Marles is a dud,but because of the factional rubbish in the Labor Party, Albanese can’t move him along without risking an implosion in the ranks.Besides that would take real leadership,not steady as she goes.Maybe someone on his side of the fence could pull the rug out from under him…make him an offer he can’t refuse.