The Australia-UK-US partnership had 15 shiny minutes in the global media spotlight recently when Donald Trump became characteristically baffled by its mention. I say “characteristically” because the current POTUS is more gaffe-prone than his predecessor, having exchanged policy development and public debate for a personal revenge tour.
Much of his commentary, from fantasising about sharks to reminiscing about Hannibal Lecter, is rooted in fiction and played to a fanatical base who lap up his lack of coherence. Similarly, his actions since returning to office have centred on the punishment of political adversaries and the dismantling of his own government. It’s no surprise AUKUS was a word salad to him. Everything else is.
On the surface, however, the failure to decipher the AUKUS acronym was one of Trump’s more forgivable senior moments… after all, Americans call rocket “arugula” and reduce “hundreds and thousands” to the far less festive “sprinkles” so they may very well frame their trilateral security agreements using different internal terminology. Trump did, at least, reaffirm his commitment to a “good relationship” with Australia. That’s nice.
But what is our relationship worth?
I woke up this weekend to the footage of a furious Trump and his more cunning, more calculated second-in-command, JD Vance, betraying the president of Ukraine in real time. Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his ground, swatting off pathetic absurdities such as Brian Glenn’s “incisive” critique of his dress sense and Vance’s repeated demands for gratitude. This story has dominated the global newsfeed, with sound reason, and will ricochet for months to come.
Zelenskyy was eventually removed from the White House in an insult that many have interpreted as a death knell for the old world order and America’s role in maintaining international peace, security and stability through their partnership with Europe on matters of common defence, including the joint establishment of, and commitment to, NATO. By branding Zelenskyy a “dictator”, hectoring him in front of cameras, and throwing him out, the Trump administration (one is tempted to write ‘Trump cartel’) has declared itself hostile to any notion of common purpose, common peace, and a common understanding of right and wrong.
America has, in fact, declared itself hostile in general.
Taken in this context, Trump’s failure to understand the meaning of AUKUS must register as more concerning. Perhaps it’s not so much a question of the concept being lost in translation, but an admission that the US no longer cares about its allies.
Australia has long relied on this alliance to maintain security in our region. With Trump’s upending of diplomatic norms, openly bullying a fellow world leader for clickbait and domestic credibility, the Pacific region is less safe today than it was on Friday.
An emboldened China may, much like Putin’s Russia, seek to expand its territory. China is well-positioned to target Taiwan, as it has long intended, cosy in the knowledge that America will do nothing. Worse than nothing. If America can be relied upon to do anything at all, it’s to insult and berate the people it claims to be working with.
For Prime Minister Albanese, and likewise for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, the weekend’s events must serve as a wake-up call that America is, at best, a fair-weather friend. If war hero Zelenskyy can be expected to crawl before the mad king’s golden throne, then our little island can surely suffer similar indignities.
Australia must strengthen ties with Europe, and Europe must, likewise, work in harmony to establish new global security arrangements alongside partners in the Asia-Pacific region who share ethical, ideological and strategic objectives.
Relying on America after this weekend would be naïve to the point of reckless. However the Australian Government is constituted following the upcoming federal election, it must be decisive and forward-thinking on matters of national and international security, and it must be prepared to work closely with overseas interests beyond the traditional America-centric post-World War II framework. This framework has become a crutch, and that crutch is rapidly rotting.
Before he was cut off by a belligerent Trump and a sneering Vance, Zelenskyy started to point out that an ocean wouldn’t be enough to protect America from imperialist and expansionist adversarial powers. It won’t be enough to protect Australia either.
While much of the world watches and rewatches the explosive White House debacle, I suggest the sign of disloyalty came a little earlier for us: AUKUS means nothing to Trump. We should heed the warning before we find ourselves in Zelenskyy’s shoes and we should raise our voice with Europe to defend him now lest we too find ourselves being forced to beg for the children of our nation. This is not hyperbole; this is current events.
It would be prudent to add a few more letters to AUKUS to ensure the future security of Australia.
In the meantime, we may as well shorten the existing agreement to AUK.
The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.
Alex Vickery-Howe
Alex Vickery-Howe is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright, social commentator, rambling podcaster and emerging novelist. His work spans political satire, environmental polemic, dark comedy and fantasy fiction. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University.