Australia and the U.S>

Abstract

Australia and the United States have fought together in every major conflict since the 1918 Battle of Hamel. Politicians, military leaders, and citizens from both countries have long referred to this bilateral relationship as robust and vital. The 1951 ANZUS Treaty followed by decades of steadfast cooperation solidified a century of ‘mateship.’ Yet the last decade has seen a shifting balance of power across the Indo-Pacific. Has the alliance endured amidst new challenges? This thesis argues that diplomatic, intelligence, military, and economic connectivity between these two countries have cemented an unbreakable alliance. National interests intersect more often than not, and Washington remains a steadfast partner for Canberra. This argument is based on an examination of the history of American and Australian military and security forces serving side by side throughout major conflicts as well as an investigation of the numerous diplomatic and economic agreements made over the last century.