Australia’s Archipelagic Deterrence

Abstract

Australia’s decision to acquire long-range nuclear-powered submarines, its desire for interchangeable forces with America and the claim by a former defence minister that it would be ‘inconceivable’ for Australia not to be involved in a conflict over Taiwan indicate high ambitions. Archipelagic deterrence better accommodates the political dilemmas of alliance and partner cooperation, and provides the United States with a resilient platform for conducting long-term strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific. In the 1980s, the key one for Australian defence policy was how to justify and design a defence force in the absence of a threat. This led to the ‘Defence of Australia’ strategy, whereby Australia could handle short-term and low-level threats, while cooperating with the US abroad in the case of anything more substantial. Deterrence is a new path for Australia. During the Cold War, Canberra made only ad hoc contributions to the deterrence plans of its partners. Show more