Rules-based order collapse: Australia’s chance for independence

The current international crisis offers Australia an opportunity to seek an independent path in the world, which will also make the country safer in an increasingly turbulent world, writes Dr Albert Palazzo.

FOR YEARS the rules-based global order has been one of the stated pillars of Australia’s defense policy. Involved in numerous government security documents at the same time expressions by government officials. At the same time, our political leaders insisted that the global order was under attack. Russia and China and Australia was required to support the United States in its defence.

Government He barely mentions it. These days the words “rules-based global order” are used. Despite the effort to extol its importance, it is as if it was never really important. Perhaps Australia’s political class did not expect the United States, led by President Donald Trump, to be the disruptor that features so strongly in Australia’s security policy.

When one of the pillars of a country’s security policy collapses, it is reasonable to expect that policy to be re-examined. Perhaps the government could even issue a statement acknowledging that the situation has changed. But in this case, the course of action chosen by Australian leaders is to hope that no one notices the seismic shift that has occurred. Australia’s overall support for the Alliance remains as before; Support for illegal war with Iran offered And problem The AUKUS agreement is defined as follows: “full speed ahead”.

Other countries were not so hesitant to accept the truth. speech Given by the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney The World Economic Forum meeting practiced telling it like it is. The rules-based order has disappeared and America is now a greedy hegemon.

The fundamental question Australians need to ask themselves is whether they want to be subjects of a hegemon. If the hegemon in question were China, the answer would immediately be a resounding no, with the government leading the chants. But this is the path Australia has taken in relation to the United States.

I have to assume that the Australian Government does not want our nation to become a vassal of America, but that is hard to say.

To avoid such a fate, Australia needs to join with Europe, Canada and regional states to develop new ways to ensure our security amid the turmoil and lack of trust caused by Trump. From a defense perspective, it is essential for Australia to implement an independent national security policy that does not rely on the United States. Gone are the days of the “insurance policy.” Our island geography, protected by modern precision strike missiles and long-range drones, allows Australia to defend itself and to do so at relatively modest cost.

Instead of creating an Australian Defense Force (ADFDesigned as a subset of the US military and easily falling under US command to accommodate American-made American-led warfare, Australia, like any sovereign state, should aim to have a military whose primary purpose is to protect its nation. I summarized the necessary steps in my book, The Big Solution: Rebuilding Australia’s National Security.

But ensuring Australia’s security is not just a matter for the military. Australia can play a leading role among middle powers in building new multilateral organizations to advance common interests and protect itself from potential exploitation by a hegemon. Regionally and globally, Australia should work with other states to soften the power of the hegemonic-led new world order. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) should rightfully lead the country’s security policy, with the support of the Ministry of Defense.

Australia also needs to increase its resilience. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz resulted in a fuel crisis that demonstrated Australia’s vulnerability to offshore shocks over which it could not control. To break Australia’s dependence on overseas fuels and thereby protect its own future from external interference, the government needs to implement domestic reform. One obvious step that would reduce the country’s vulnerability to fuel shortages would be the electrification of transportation. This would be a proper whole-of-government project, a term used to describe AUKUS.

Unfortunately, unless one works for (or owns shares in) a defense contractor, the flow of weapons projects to the rest of society is limited. In turn, the electrification of transport will benefit almost every Australian through new employment opportunities, lower energy costs and the reduction of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Another way to address resilience is to invest more in education – especially at the research level – so smart people can find smart solutions for the needs of Australia and the region. Australia should also seek to produce more essential medicines and medical supplies, as well as other critical products. In a world of increasing turmoil, Australia is fortunately self-sufficient, but deficiencies in other areas must be addressed.

But the Australian Government’s starting point must be the acceptance and frank expression of the new reality. First, I suggest our leaders begin the journey by stating what is bleedingly obvious elsewhere: that the rules-based global order is gone. Australia cannot continue to believe in the magic of AUKUS. A partner we can’t trust is no longer a partner, and the sooner we accept that, the better.