YDS 2021 in Review

by Daniel Whitehurst
Since 1945, Australia has shown a consistent and fierce tendency to align with the
United States; after all, why wouldn’t we? Under the world’s most significant and
advanced military umbrella and with close financial connections to the world’s
largest economy, Australia has blossomed. Today we possess a prosperous and
stable economy that entices overseas investment, especially from the US, witnessed
a world-leading thirty year streak without a recession that was only ended by the
onset of COVID-19, and have a crucial security relationship that reduces our
historical fear of isolationism. As a result, Australia has developed a voice within the
Indo-Pacific region and serves as a hub from which the US seeks to ensure the
continuation of their rules-based order
The benefits Australia has inherited from Washington, being our ‘great and powerful
friend’ are indisputable. However, such interconnectedness has also served to
distance us from like-minded partners in our region. Being a middle power in any
region is challenging, however in the contemporary
Indo-Pacific it is particularly unenviable. The great power
competition that exists between the US and China, and
the ramifications for Australia siding with the US so
vehemently over the past year, have further contributed
to a feeling of isolation within our own backyard. As a
result of our strict adherence to US policy and political
ties, our ability to interact with those states in our
periphery and affect change – much less lead – within
our region has been compromised. Against the
backdrop of the US having its international image
tarnished again by the withdrawal
from Afghanistan and Australia
signing the AUKUS pact, it is now time
to consider loosening one hand
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