Since World War 2, Australia has developed closer military ties with the United States. This involvement dates from the time when Australia was forced to turn to the United States to help repel the Japanese advance though Southeast Asia and the Pacific during the early 1940’s. As part of its involvement in the “Pacific Campaign” the United States established a number of large military bases in the Asia-Pacific region.
Following our involvement in the Pacific Campaign the Australian military established close links with the US military. These links were further reinforced in the post-war period through the signing of formal treaty agreements, including the ANZUS treaty, and through Australia’s involvement in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Australia also participated in both the 1990-91 and 2003-04 Gulf Wars against Iraq.
THE ANZUS TREATY
ANZUS is an acronym of “Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America” and is a multilateral security treaty between these three countries. A treaty, convention or protocol is an agreement between countries that is binding in international law. Countries need treaties so that they can organise both national and international responses to common issues and threats. The ANZUS treaty came into force in April 1952 and its aim was to establish a committee to resolve conflict, where possible, by peaceful means while maintaining and developing an individual and collective capacity to resist attacks. The ANZUS treaty was formally invoked (put into affect) by the Australian government for the first time on the 14 September 2001 when the cabinet agreed to support any US military retaliation in response to the September 11 terrorist attack.
MILITARY EXERCISES AND PEACEKEEPING
Australia conducts regular military exercises with the military forces of the United States, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States. Joint US and Australia military exercises are conducted every few years. Since World War 2, the Australian Defence Force has been active in many parts of the world through its involvement in combat operations as well as UN and multinational peace keeping and humanitarian initiatives. These operations have involved the deployment of troops to the Middle East, Iran, Namibia, Afghistan, Iraq, Cambodia, Rwanda, Solalia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
Australia’s role in East Timor is a useful example of our involvement I peacekeeping operations. In September 1999 Australia was asked to lead a UN-sponsored multinational force in East Timor. The UN-mandated International Force East Timor (Interfet) was deployed to stop the violence that erupted after the East Timorese people voted for independence from Indonesia. The Interfet mission in East Timor involved over 5500 Australian personal and has been Australia’s largest commitment to a peacekeeping operation to date. In addition to East Timor, Australia’s other long-term peacekeeping commitments in the region include operations in Bougainville (a province of Papua New Guinea) and the Solomon Islands.
TRAINING
Australia has established military training relationships with a range of nations, including Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and Papua New Guinea. This involves a variety of activities, from basic training through to specialised programs. Much of this training takes place at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. The Army Officer Training Establishment at Duntroon in Canberra also conducts exchanges with WestPoint in the United States
