Australia, explained.
His overnight declaration goes beyond his usual slogan of America First: this is America Alone (Joyce N. Boghosian/White House Photo)
The US president’s latest war declaration puts Australia’s foreign policy orthodoxy to the test.
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Trump says America needs no one’s help – Australia includedTrump says America needs no one’s help – Australia included
The New York Times journalist Peter Baker offered a compelling weekend reflection that “Epic Fury” – the operational codename for the US war against Iran – captures something far larger: the mood of an entire presidency.
Epic in the sense of bigger, better, the most winning – and fury at perceived injustices, fake news, international rip-offs, a woke agenda.
But Trump, who never ceases to generate more fodder for analysis, has just offered a new catchcry for his approach to the world:
“WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”
Trump is plainly annoyed that the Western alliance isn’t rushing to assist. Yet his overnight declaration goes beyond his usual slogan of America First. This is America Alone. For all the recent attempts to label this era of “rupture” or “permacrisis” or global crazytown, Trump figured he’d tick off America’s major allies one by one and stamp it himself – in all caps.
Consider Trump’s statement against some of the accepted truths that underpin Australia’s approach to foreign policy.
Trump directly pointing to Australia will cause some angst in the Canberra system. When Trump last derided Australia on socials earlier this month, the PM was yanked out of bed at 2am for a phone call to calm the President about asylum claims by Iran’s football team. But this latest episode won’t be seen as an alliance breakdown. The world has become more accustomed to his temper. Germany’s defence minister even struck a patronising tone in response: “What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the Strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy cannot manage alone?”
But just for the analytical exercise, consider Trump’s statement against some of the accepted truths that underpin Australia’s approach to foreign policy. Take these extracts from Penny Wong’s keynote gala address in November to the Australian Institute of International Affairs as an example.
“The United States is our closest ally, and our principal economic and strategic partner…”
“… the United States and its security guarantee to the region…”
“… our AUKUS partnership …”
Each statement is premised not on America alone but an active America, providing trusted partnership and pledges.
Wong might respond that the US alliance isn’t one-way traffic. She regularly talks about Australians having national self-confidence in the Trump era, after all. The Americans get plenty in return from the relationship, whether basing rights, intelligence sharing, or increased investment in submarine production.
The US alliance also isn’t the only pillar of Australian foreign policy. Wong likes to invoke “amplified middle-power diplomacy”, the idea of working together with friends to advance shared interests. She did so again on Tuesday after meeting with counterparts from New Zealand. But her example was working together to evacuate citizens from the Middle East – underscoring that cooperation is manifestly harder when the principal partner goes it alone.
Perhaps the main takeaway from this moment of presidential focus shouldn’t be the big picture but small mercies. No US ambassador occupies the embassy in Canberra. That is one less pressure point on Australia. Should Trump eventually get around to making an appointment, and assuming a MAGA type gets the gig, that person would have the latitude – even the incentive – to amplify the president’s voice across local media airwaves. Then Australia might really wish America would leave the country alone.
About the author
Daniel Flitton
Daniel Flitton is one of Australia’s most experienced foreign affairs journalists and is Managing Editor of the Lowy Institute’s international magazine, The Interpreter.
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