Op-ed originally published in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI) analysis and commentary site, The Strategist.
28 August 2025
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the Australian American Leadership Dialogue in Adelaide. This unique forum brought together leaders from politics, business, academia and the community to strengthen the bonds between our two nations.
What became clear is something I’ve long believed: that the Australia-United States relationship is one of our most valuable assets. Its strength lies not only in defence cooperation, but in the deep trust, shared values and people-to-people connections that underpin it.
The Australia-US alliance is widely considered one of the most enduring and reliable partnerships in the modern geopolitical landscape.
While our strategic and defence interests—particularly through the AUKUS pact—often dominate headlines, it’s our shared values that sustain our friendship.
Our relationship is built on freedom, the rule of law, human rights and a commitment to a rules-based international order.
In an increasingly unpredictable world, reaffirming these principles is essential to preserving the strength and relevance of our alliance.
Importantly, AUKUS represents just one component of our broader defence partnership.
In 2023, the commissioning of the USS Canberra in Sydney Harbour marked the first time a US Navy ship entered service in a foreign port.
This was more than a ceremonial milestone; it was a powerful affirmation of the trust between our two countries.
During the recent Exercise Talisman Sabre, integrated air and missile defence systems were deployed to Australian bases, data-sharing partnerships were strengthened and the Australian Defence Force successfully test-fired a Precision Strike Missile co-developed with the US.
These developments demonstrate our growing defence integration.
We’re also advancing cooperation through our Innovation Alliance, which fosters collaboration on science and critical emerging technologies.
Visits by US nuclear-powered submarines, and the planned establishment of the Submarine Rotational Force-West in Western Australia by 2027, further underscore the depth of our shared commitment.
Building on this momentum, the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act, which passed in Parliament last year, marks a remarkable step forward.
Australia is now one of only two countries—alongside the Britain—to be granted this level of integration with the US defence industry.
It effectively treats Australia much like a domestic partner within the US defence trade system, eliminating complex export processes, speeding access to advanced equipment and opening the door for Australian manufacturers to tap into the world’s largest defence industrial base.
Such changes reflect not just closer integration, but a profound level of strategic trust.
While Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program under Pillar One of the AUKUS agreement has attracted the most public attention, Pillar Two is equally transformative.
This pillar focuses on cutting-edge areas such as cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and undersea systems.
By collaborating in these advanced domains, Australia gains access to next-generation technologies, strengthens the interoperability with the US and enhances our ability to respond to emerging threats across the Indo-Pacific.
The result will be faster development of advanced systems, stronger networks and greater resilience in an increasingly complex security environment.
This alliance also delivers tangible benefits for Australians and local communities.
AUKUS alone will create around 20,000 direct jobs across the nation—not just in the shipbuilding hubs in Western Australia and South Australia, but throughout the supply chain—strengthening Australia’s industrial base in a way not seen since the days of the car manufacturing industry.
US defence investment is driving opportunities in advanced manufacturing, cyber and quantum research. This boosts local economies, helps upskill our workforce and ensures that national security partnerships also deliver lasting social and economic dividends at home.
At its heart, this is about people. Not just military personnel, but also apprentices, engineers, entrepreneurs and communities seeing long-term benefits from a partnership that invests in the future.
Together, we’re supporting our Pacific neighbours, strengthening sovereignty and resilience in the face of climate change, cyber threats and economic coercion.
This year’s deployment of around 2,500 US Marines and sailors to the Northern Territory marks 15 years of joint training and collaboration with the ADF and regional partners through the Marine Rotational Force.
Our defence ties are not new. Australians and Americans have stood shoulder to shoulder in every major conflict since World War I.
These shared sacrifices have forged bonds of trust that transcend any single agreement and endure regardless of who holds office.
The Australia-US alliance is stronger than AUKUS and deeper than defence. It’s about shared values, enduring trust and the belief that together we are safer, more prosperous and better equipped to shape the future.
For more than a century, Australians and Americans have walked side by side in war, in peace and in building a more secure region. This commitment is the true strength of our alliance.
