Australia - Location! Location! Location!
Ron Ross
Bridges for Peace News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com
8th September, 2007
I smiled at the press reports out of Sydney during the APEC conference. People expressed their concern about snipers in the air and riflemen watching from high-rise buildings. Relax! The obvious security presence was just a rehearsal for the future.
The "she'll be right" policy we enjoyed in the past is long gone.
In recent days the United States and Australia signed the Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty (Sept. 5.) Analysts outside of Australia are likening this agreement to one signed in the UK, June 27. The point being made is Australia is now recognized as a location of increasing prominence in U.S. strategic thinking.
We have recently seen this US administration hand out a $30 billion dollars arms deal with Israel and another $20 billion to Saudi Arabia and various other Arab locations. As the real estate advertising mantra goes - 'Location, Location, Location.'
The US with their handouts expect to gain vital allies in the mounting international power struggle. In this latest development analysts predict Australia will soon be on a par with the United Kingdom as a strategic US ally.
Our value comes from the growing importance of East Asia in the U.S. strategic thinking. This development is influenced in no small way by the flexing of the Chinese presence in recent times.
China has acquired uranium interests in Australia and it bought iron ore mines in Cambodia. The Stratfors news analysts say 'China's creeping influence over the South Pacific region, particularly through cheque-book diplomacy" is registering on the US thinking.
Not only the rise of interest in this region by China but also an increasing focus on the Far East by Russia puts Australia in the centre strategically.
"The recent encroachment of Chinese and Russian influence across East Asia has reminded the United States of the fierce competition for dominance in the region. As the world's centre of gravity continues to shift away from Europe, other allies will become more significant for Washington," said the Stratfors analysis.
As Asia-Pacific becomes increasingly the trend-setting international community Australia is expected to be drawn more closely to the United States. In that relationship Australia can expect to be primed to 'manage' places like East Timor, for instance.
Now here is the enlightening but challenging forecast by Stratfors: "While such ties with Washington are costly for (John) Howard in a domestic political sense, the alignment of U.S. and Australian geopolitical interests transcends both Washington's White House and Canberra's Lodge. No matter who holds office, Australia will continue to expand its influence across its periphery, and the United States will encourage it.
An Australia truly empowered to conduct business in its periphery not only as it sees fit but also with U.S. backing could be a force to reckon with." Australia has grown up living the image of being the place where you go or where you live 'to play in the sun.' We have sold ourselves on the sand, surf and sports way of life.
As the world around us continues to shrink, it seems we are at the point where people expect us to embrace a large role in maintaining stability in our region. We are about to be called upon to stand up and be counted. It means we will have to take responsibility for peace in our region. After living in Jerusalem for so long, guns in the street no longer surprise me. Thank God, the snipers in Sydney were ours.
One day we may not enjoy such a privilege unless we respond to our challenges with wisdom and courage and some fine old Aussie humour, of course. Our very freedom may be at stake.
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(Email: ronandyvonne@mac.com)
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Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com |
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