Machiavelli would have a lot to say about Australia’s AUKUS deal

The leaders of Australia, who saw the future as increasing threats and complexity, chose Aukus as a solution. The wisdom of this action has not yet been determined, but a large number of commentators, including myselfI expressed our doubts.

Throughout history, readers know that a government does not have to respond to a different and more dangerous threat environment for the first time. Then it is reasonable to seek the thoughts of previous intellectuals living in similar situations.

Such a thinker was Niccolò Machiavelli. As the former War Research Director for the Australian army and an assistant professor in Elemberra, he is very knowledgeable in the man’s writings.

Machiavelli Since the rival forces conquered most of the independent states of the peninsula, the indigenous wrote in a turbulent period in Italy. PrinceThe best -known work gives information about the steps they can take to protect and manage power to managers, to guarantee and expand their states. The passing of the five centuries did not reduce the suitability of Machiavelli’s instructions, and those responsible for Aukus would be good to listen to their words.

There was no illusion about the savagery to use Machiavelli. He identified with the devil on his day. Today’s international relations experts would label him as a realistic.

In the establishment of AUKUS, Australia has doubled its dependence on the United States for national security. Various Ministry of Defense Documents Emphasize the importance of the US alliance to Australia and the government clearly sees it as a way to benefit from national power.

However, Machiavelli draws attention to the madness of this kind of addiction. Quote from the Roman philosopher Livy, he acknowledges that nothing is very weak or unstable because nothing has a reputation for power that is not based on its own forces ”. The US and Australian soldiers first fought each other during the First World War, and since then they have frequent comrades. Nevertheless, Machiavelli knows that even a long relationship is not important, because other power forces may not exist when necessary. The basic principle of Australia’s defense policy is therefore one of the hope, not rationality.

Machiavelli, the principles of his age – more comment on the value of friendships that exist among today’s nation -states. It concludes that the leaders who are dependent on the promises of others without taking additional measures are providing their ruins. Australia’s exactly what Aukus has made a registering: it deliberately intensifies its dependence on the United States.

Australia gradually increases defense expenditures, but the target is a military force that can be replaced by the US army – and thus a force that supports the US interests. However, as Machiavelli knows, friendship cannot be purchased and does not last, regardless of expenditure. One is reminded Lord Palmerston’s Comment:

We have no eternal allies and we don’t constantly enemies. Our interests are eternal and continuous, and these interests are our monitoring.

Probably Machiavelli rolled in his grave when Australia was delivered 800 million dollars In the second installment of AUKUS payments, First 800 million dollars payment During his visit to the United States by senior leaders in February.

The leaders of Australia never understand that friendship did not take a weak part of interests. The vineyards with Britain were much deeper than anything else than the United States and the United States, but in 1941, our friends in London did not hesitate to relax. Singapore fallen.

In 1941, the conditions dictated that the best ways of action for the British was to break relations with Australian cousins. One of Machiavelli’s basic principles is that the leaders should know when to break their words to succeed. Says:

… A prudent ruler cannot honor and honor his word when he plays him in a disadvantaged way and the reasons for his promise no longer exist.

He could have written these words, because he was aware of the countless promises broken by the leaders of his age. Even if Trump is not, a president, belief and promise, who is not known for his loyalty to others, are a weak basis for establishing a security policy. Ordinary people seem to know that. 2025 Pew Survey only 18% of Australians He believed Trump was honest – the global median was 28%.

Australian security requires more independence, not dependence on a major partner. I am discussing this in my next book, Big Correction: Restructuring Australia’s national security. Our leaders should understand that it is not intact to reset a defense policy on sensuality.

Inside PrinceMachiavelli realized that leaders were hard to change the settled policy. He wrote:

While Fortune may change, men are stubborn in their own paths.

The Australian government correctly demonstrates that the world has become more dangerous, but the security policy simply defines the intensification of the old road rather than looking for a better way.

Machiavelli knew that such stubbornness was crazy.