Terrorism, Middle East and China top Howard concerns
Counterterrorism was one of the Howard government’s top defense priorities in 2005, cabinet documents show, but ministers were also aware that China was increasingly assertive.
Records dating back 20 years released by the National Archives provide new insight into how the government made decisions about sending troops overseas and protecting Australians at home.
There was significant debate in the cabinet and the high-powered national security committee about Australia’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Minutes from July show the government agreed to send SAS soldiers to Afghanistan for a 12-month mission.
Ministers were concerned about the potential for the country to become a failed state, felt the deployment would help combat terrorism and benefit Australia’s relations with its allies.
Defense minister Robert Hill and foreign minister Alexander Downer wrote at the time: “A small and appropriately placed Australian contribution to Afghanistan at a time when international focus has returned could strengthen our already strong relationships with the US and UK and enhance our relationship with NATO.”
Although the special forces deployment was initially planned to last a year, after an earlier spell in 2001, ADF troops eventually spent almost two decades ensuring security in Afghanistan.
This undertaking cost the lives of 41 military personnel and launched an ongoing investigation into war crimes allegedly committed by Australian soldiers.
The cabinet also sent troops to Iraq’s Al Muthanna province upon the withdrawal of Dutch forces.
As Australia ramps up the pace of international deployments, the documents reveal new insights into how the cabinet is thinking about the global world order.
An update to the country’s defense strategy in 2005 shows the government’s main priorities at the time.
“Terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the potential for state failure remain security concerns,” Mr. Hill wrote in November.
A separate, sealed cabinet memo shows ministers discussing a counter-terrorism initiative in the southern Philippines, where the two men who carried out the recent Bondi massacre were reportedly traveling for terrorist training.
This record was sealed due to fears that it could damage Australia’s relations with other countries.
While terrorism is a top priority, Mr. Hill also expressed concerns about how tensions between the United States and China will continue to evolve in the coming years.
“Great power relativities are evolving in North Asia. A more competitive U.S.-China relationship will likely impact future regional security arrangements,” he wrote.
The US alliance was a major concern for the cabinet at the time, and documents show close communication between Australia and the US.
The government has adopted proposed statements from America as it works on a statement about Pine Gap, a joint Australian-US spy facility in the Northern Territory.
“The U.S. response to the recommendation to revise the statement was very positive,” the June memo, which was heavily redacted, said.
