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By Robert Haca, Curtin University, Y20 Summit 2024
Leaving the Y20 summit, I felt Australia’s need for a more independent foreign policy was urgent to avoid unintended conflicts. Over the years, Australian diplomatic spending has decreased as a percentage of total Commonwealth spending, being 0.38% in 1995-6, and declining to 0.19% in 2021-22 (1). This is also indicative of Australia’s diplomatic postings abroad, as though they have increased since 1995-6, it is only 19th out of 20 G20 members, with 124 postings abroad (2).
These facts bounced around in my head as I was getting ready to be Australia’s representative on the global stage for the first time in my life. I went into this summit with a goal - to not only represent the demands of Australian youth regarding the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality - but to also reach out to every representative of every country and region attending the Y20 summit. In a way, the need for greater Australian foreign policy independence was channelled through my efforts in the summit, building stronger relationships with representatives from Australia’s neighbours in the Indo-Pacific, especially the Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian and Singaporean delegations.
Australia already has strong networks and links to the Indo-Pacific, as countries in Southeast Asia and East Asia comprise the bulk of Australia’s international trade, which should align with a more autonomous foreign policy, focused on strengthening Australia’s image in the region through efforts such as peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts in more conflict-stricken regions such as Sulu and Myanmar.
However, foreign policy is currently very much influenced by Australia’s traditional ally in the United States, with the recent signing of AUKUS, and the eventual stationing of American and British nuclear submarines at HMAS Stirling, highlight a continued reliance on this traditional alliance, something that may pose a problem when two of our biggest trading partners come into conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
The recent election of Donald Trump also calls into question the viability of AUKUS itself, due to his track record of demanding defence partners contribute significant amounts to continue defence relationships with the US, or risk the withdrawal of US support entirely. Some argue that due to Australia’s long-standing relationship with the US, and the US$3 billion of investments over five years into American shipyards, it would be business as usual, as Trump would see it as a “good deal” for America. However, some also argue that Australia may have to pay billions more to keep the AUKUS deal, and that we should continue regardless due to the benefits that Australia would see from this, namely access to critical technology sharing under Pillar Two and nuclear submarines from Pillar One.
However, I would argue that Australia should have initially continued its path of finding alternative partners for submarine acquisition and defence technology sharing, such as South Korea, Japan or Germany, as it is currently doing with its acquisition of 11 frigates under Project Sea-3000. Australia is already an exposed economy, with its heavy reliance on natural resource extraction and international education, and by tying ourselves further to a potentially unreliable partner in the United States, with the possibility of it exiting NATO entirely over social media regulation of an American social media platform - X - in the EU (3), we risk exposing ourselves in our pursuit to bolster our defence.
Australia should look to the north for foreign policy inspiration, as countries in Southeast Asia have done remarkably well in maintaining good foreign relations with the United States and China, balancing the need for economic growth and greater security. If Australia seeks to be a middle power in the Indo-Pacific community, it must show that it pursues an independent foreign policy, balancing the demands of the American alliance while also strengthening partnerships with all countries in the Indo-Pacific equally.
Efforts from Australia to integrate itself into the neighbouring community have been strong, with the New Colombo Plan and teaching of Asian languages crucial to continuing long standing relationships between Australia and countries in the region. However, this must also be reflected in our foreign policy, and a balance must be struck if Australia seeks to find its place as a middle power, amongst a backdrop of ever increasing conflicts and turmoil globally.
The idea that Australia needs a protective 'parental' ally is outdated and Australia would be a stronger and more robust nation if it accepted its potential to achieve an independent foreign policy and unbound itself from the golden handcuffs of being “yet another American ally” in the Indo-Pacific. Overall, I am delighted to have represented Australia on the world stage, and give my thanks to Curtin University and the Global Voices team, who have supported and guided me in the lead up to the summit.
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The views and opinions expressed by Global Voices Fellows do not necessarily reflect those of the organisation or its staff.