Damon Mcknight
Australia and the United States have a long history of collaboration, with the US providing support to Australia in several instances. In 2020, the US sent around 175 firefighters from multiple federal agencies to help Australia tackle devastating wildfires that destroyed towns, rural communities, and livelihoods. The two countries have also been formally allied in conflicts such as World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. More recently, the US and Australia have collaborated on the AUKUS agreement, which involves the US and the UK providing nuclear submarine technology to Australia in exchange for help in policing China in the Asia-Pacific region. However, this agreement has faced some challenges and is currently under review by the US. Despite these collaborations, there have also been instances of disagreement between the two countries, such as during the 1919–1920 Paris Peace Conference and over a 2017 refugee agreement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Military alliance | The US, UK, and Australia are in a trilateral agreement called the AUKUS pact. |
| Military technology | The US is to provide Australia with nuclear submarines. |
| Military technology | The US and Australia will work together to build hypersonic weapons. |
| Military technology | The US and Australia will work together to build quantum computers. |
| Military aid | The US sent its Navy's USS Minnesota, a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, to sail off the coast of Western Australia in March. |
| Economic aid | The US agreed to take in 1,250 asylum seekers from Australia in exchange for several thousand Central American refugees. |
| Economic aid | The US and Australia have a free trade agreement. |
| Disaster relief | The US sent about 175 firefighters to help Australia tackle wildfires in January 2020. |
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What You'll Learn
The US and Australia's shared history
The United States and Australia have a long history of cooperation and shared interests, with both countries being close allies. Both nations have been historically bound by their shared history as former British colonies. They were formally allied during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the War on Terror.
In the Vietnam War, Australia, as a founding member of SEATO, directly supported the United States at a time when the latter faced widespread international condemnation. However, under Prime Minister Harold Holt, Australia's support for the war waned due to strategic differences and changing regional dynamics.
The two countries have also collaborated in addressing natural disasters. During the devastating Australian wildfires in 2020, approximately 175 Americans from multiple federal agencies assisted in tackling the fires, which ravaged towns, rural communities, and livelihoods.
In recent years, the US and Australia have continued to strengthen their security partnership through initiatives such as the ANZUS security agreement and the AUKUS security partnership. The AUKUS agreement, which also includes the UK, aims to counter China's growing influence in the Pacific region. As part of this pact, the US agreed to share its advanced defence technology, allowing Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and enhance its military capabilities.
The US and Australia have also worked together to address concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea, with both countries expressing "deep concern" over issues related to Hong Kong, Taiwan, human rights violations in Xinjiang, and China's maritime claims. These shared interests and collaborative efforts demonstrate the enduring nature of the US-Australia alliance.
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The AUKUS pact
AUKUS has two main pillars. The first pillar focuses on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines and the rotational basing of US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines in Australia. The second pillar entails the collaborative development of advanced capabilities in six technological areas: undersea capabilities, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, advanced cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare; and in two broader functional areas: innovation and information sharing.
AUKUS is widely seen as a response to the perception among its members that the People's Republic of China poses a threat to the Indo-Pacific region. The pact calls for greater cooperation among the three nations in building quantum computers and hypersonic weapons, as well as nuclear-powered submarines. This will strengthen seapower gaps in the Pacific and produce transformative new weapons.
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US-Australia refugee agreements
Australia and the United States have a history of shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities, with formalised governmental relations underpinned by agreements such as ANZUS, AUKUS, and the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA).
In terms of refugee agreements, the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, as amended by its 1967 Protocol (the Refugee Convention), defines a refugee as a person who is outside their own country and is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution. As a signatory to this convention, Australia has agreed not to send refugees back to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened, known as the principle of non-refoulement.
In 2017, under the refugee swap deal, the United States resettled about 300 refugees from Nauru, some of whom wanted to return. This deal was made during President Barack Obama's presidency, but it was not supported by President Donald Trump, as revealed in his first phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in February 2017.
Australia has also faced criticism for its treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, with thousands being held in closed immigration detention facilities in Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea under third country processing arrangements. The Australian Human Rights Commission has expressed concerns about protecting the human rights of these individuals, as required by various international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
While Australia and the United States maintain a strong relationship, recent shifts in tourism trends indicate that Australians are choosing destinations they perceive as safer and more welcoming, with the United States facing challenges in its tourism industry due to concerns over unpredictable customs experiences, strict inspections, and negative perceptions influenced by global news and political shifts.
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US firefighters helping Australia fight wildfires
The United States has sent firefighters to Australia to help tackle the country's wildfires, which have burned millions of acres and destroyed vast ecosystems and wildlife. In 2020, around 175 Americans from multiple federal agencies were deployed to Australia, including 20 National Angeles Forest firefighters. The US Forest Service also sent over hotshots and veteran firefighters. These firefighters have a reputation for being among the best in the profession, with their hard work and ability to get things done with limited resources being specifically praised by Australian officials.
The US and Australia have helped each other fight fires for over 15 years, with Australia sending about 150 firefighters to the US in 2018. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), based in Boise, Idaho, is responsible for assembling and coordinating the American firefighting teams. This mutual aid system is beneficial to both countries, as they have different fire seasons, allowing them to share resources when needed.
US firefighters have had to adjust to a unique firefighting culture, lingo, and landscapes in Australia. For example, the term for dead standing trees in Australia is "stag" instead of "snag," and calling in a tanker means requesting a water-carrying fire truck rather than an aircraft. Despite these differences, there are also many parallels between the wildfires in the two countries, and US firefighters are well-equipped to fight the types of fires that occur in Australia.
In addition to the US, Canada and New Zealand have also helped Australia in its firefighting efforts. In recent years, the US has sent several hundred personnel to Australia to help with devastating wildfires from December 2019 to April 2020.
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The US and Australia's stance on China
The US and Australia have a long-standing friendship, but the US's commitment to this alliance has been questioned in recent years. The re-election of Donald Trump as president in 2025 has cast doubt on the US's dedication to Australia, with Trump's isolationist policies potentially impacting their involvement in the Pacific region.
The AUKUS pact, a trilateral agreement between the US, UK, and Australia, is a key example of this strained relationship. The agreement, worth £176 billion, would provide Australia with cutting-edge nuclear submarine technology in exchange for more help in policing China in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the White House under Trump has put this deal under review, sparking fears that Australia may be left without the support of its greatest ally.
Despite these concerns, the US and Australia share a common interest in countering China's growing influence in the Pacific. The US views China as its biggest strategic rival, and Australia has also expressed concerns about China's military buildup and lack of transparency. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, has called on China to provide greater transparency and reassurance, citing it as a fundamental issue for the region.
The question of Australia's support for the US in a potential conflict with China, particularly over Taiwan, has become a touchstone of the seriousness of their alliance. While the Australian government has avoided directly addressing this question, their increasing cooperation with the US, such as the buildup of US combat forces at Australian bases, indicates a tacit understanding of their role in a potential conflict.
The AUKUS pact, despite facing challenges, remains significant in this context. It is seen as a blueprint for leveraging United States alliances to counter Beijing and strengthening the US's position in the Pacific. However, the future of this pact is uncertain, with the US reviewing its role and Australia potentially facing outdated military capabilities if the US withdraws its support.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the United States and Australia are close allies, maintaining a robust relationship underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities.
The US has provided aid to Australia during natural disasters, such as the 2020 bushfires, by sending firefighters to help tackle the flames.
The US and Australia have a strong economic relationship. They are also formal allies under the ANZUS security agreement, the AUKUS security partnership, and the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA).
The AUKUS agreement is a trilateral security pact between the US, UK, and Australia. It involves the US and UK providing Australia with cutting-edge nuclear submarine technology in exchange for help policing China in the Asia-Pacific region.
