Despite 80 years of Australian unwavering loyalty, as expected the US, “our closest ally”, is now screwing us on tariffs, with a hefty 25% tariff placed on Australian steel and aluminium exports.
It’s not the first time they’ve done us in regards trade in recent times. Just a few years ago, when we did their dirty work with regards to China, causing us to lose lots of access to, by far, our largest export market, following their sanctioning of our goods, the US was quick to cut in, taking the Chinese markets we lost for themselves. That’s loyalty back for you!
Australian loyalty to the US extends to the many wars we have fought for them. As the most reliable US lapdog, Australia has gone running off to all their wars, from Korea, Vietnam and Indo-China, Iraq (1991), Afghanistan, and again Iraq (2003). We have even been there for them them in their devious overthrow of multiple governments, most clearly in the case of Salvador Allende in Chile (1973). There, no doubt, has been plenty more collaboration in such illegalities; if only we could eavesdrop on the US spy base (let’s drop the duplicitous Joint Defence Facility facade) at Pine Gap.
And for all our loyalty what have we got in return? Twice we have asked our “great and powerful friend” for military help, first in the 1960s with the Indonesian Konfrontasi, and then again in the late 1990s with Timor Leste, where not even John Howard, George W. Bush’s “man of steel”, was able to obtain any favours. That, however, didn’t stop “little Johnnie” rushing to volunteer Australia’s support in the US’ Iraq adventurism a few years later. Loyalty, it seems, stretches one way only.
Of course, the US has long been resident on our shores with its military bases from the forenamed Pine Gap, to N.W. Cape and Nurrungar, among numerous others, less known.
In recent times, we have gone further with the Force Posture Agreement, allowing ever more US military facilities and personnel on our soil, essentially turning northern Australia into a giant US military facility. This involves the stationing of nuclear capable B-52s (a fair assumption, I reckon, they sometimes have them, but we are “too kind” to ask), refuelling facilities, rotational, but permanent, troop presence, numbering some 2500 along with further ancillary staff.
And, of course, we must not forget the latest paradigm of Australian blind devotion, AUKUS. $800 million just given to US shipyards to build submarines, which it is becoming ever more clear, we will never get. Still, what is an eventual $368 billion between friends for a pipe dream?
Successive Australian Governments have spared no effort to prove our loyalty. Maybe that’s because the treaty in which we place so much trust, ANZUS, actually gives us naught but “consultation”. “Well, we will talk to you if anyone invades.” Because of its essentially meaningless nature, Australia strives mightily to show its loyalty to Uncle Sam in the hope it may be reciprocated if needed. No one can match our lockstep participation in US wars. Canada, New Zealand and the UK have all gone missing in action on occasions, but never Australia.
Compare that threadbare treaty with that which the US has given NATO, Japan, South Korea, and even the Philippines, nations all guaranteed, not consultation, but US military assistance if attacked. Australia asked for such guarantee, but was bluntly told “no”.
Australia’s bending over backwards to serve the US is a manifestation of a deep part of the Australian psyche, one which feels threatened by the country’s location in a part of the world which is not “ours”. How unfortunate to be located near all those “yellow hordes”, some of whom are also “red”, forever threatening to roll on down to us like treacle. This makes Australians easy prey to US geopolitical plays.
You would think all this blind loyalty and servitude would win us a cracker with the Yanks. But no, none at all. They have gone and done “the rat” on us yet again. Seemingly Pavlov’s dog learns faster than us Aussies. The US has never given us a “brass razoo” or a “dime” as they would say. And remember it isn’t just Donald Trump. He is just a continuation (in a more vulgar way) of long established US policy, doled out to “John” Fraser, and “that fellow from Down Under”.
Despite this, Australia continues to be a willing participant in being “set up” by its “closest ally”.
Our current role is to be the attack dog directed toward our, by far, largest trading partner, China. All we get from “our great ally” is, “come on, you mighty little terrier. Go for that Great Dane”. And if that Great Dane turns on us, we will get nauseating words to the effect, “our hearts are with our friends Down Under today. Our prayers and thoughts go out to them”.
It’s surely time to call the game. Trump has only served to make it clearer, but it’s been the same for “yonks”. A one-way street, loyalty one way, and “sweet bugger all” the other.
John Queripel is a Newcastle-based historian, theologian, social commentator and published author of four books. His latest book, ‘In Wisdom and in Passion: Comparing and Contrasting Buddha and Christ’ has just been released. His blog may be found at www.johnqueripelblog.com.Substack / https://johnqueripel.substack.com