Australia's Strategic and Defense Policies

The policies function to dictate the relationship between it and countries in other continents, which in most cases, aim to protect Australia’s interests. In addition, the region is undergoing significant changes characterized by shifts in the geopolitical environment caused by rising of powers such as China that has necessitated the enactment of new policies to secure its position. For this reason, the country has regional strategic and defense policies with Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and America. Policies with Asia The changing geopolitical structure of the caused by the Asian region becoming multipolar due to the emerging powers such as China. There is a shift in regional power is threatening Australia’s security creating the need for new policies that will help affirms its defense.

The move to align to China foreign policies and the recognition of political, cultural and historical differences between the two countries is an indication that Australia has taken a no-confrontational approach to avoid frosty relations with China. With the growing influence of China in the Pacific region, Australia spearheaded the formation of the Pacific Islands Forum, a body that aims to give the small island nations a collective voice in global affairs. It exerts its influence in the forum through the provision of loans and aid as a way to ward off China influence. 3 It is a strategic policy since if the small Island nations shifted their affiliations to China it would signify the erosion of Australian influence in the region.

Such a situation is a threat to Australia’s national security since it would encourage other countries to start engaging in aggressive activities and shift their alignment to geopolitical rivals due to the perception that it can no longer protect them. Australia is the second most important ally to the US after Britain mainly due to their strategic locations and similar ideological styles. The alliances between the two nations seem to have a condition for support in cases, where the other’s security is threated. For instance, after the 2001 New York and the US waging war in Iraq Australia joined as a show of support after the terrorist attack. Nonetheless, the partnership is under threat from with and outside of Australia.

The first one is the inability of the country to shoulder a matching proportion to that of the US and the issues raised by Australian citizens regarding the benefit the country was gaining from participating in Wars across the region. This primarily involves the worldwide endorsement of the Rome Statute. The framework further established a platform for continued information sharing between the relevant departments of the two jurisdictions. As a result, the two governments will openly share all the essential information on matters of foreign policy as well as on security issues. Moreover, the collaboration will also promote the identification of areas of shared security interests between them. For instance, the two will cooperate in handling matters related to disarmament and non-proliferation in the region.

Australia’s strategic and defense policies with the Middle East The government of Australia has been a key player in the restoration of peace in the Middle East. Through its foreign policy, the country is committed to maintaining cordial relationships with the nations in the Middle East region. 13 The Australia government has continually supported the Middle East countries to enhance their security by sending troops to reinforce the security agencies in the region. For instance, in 2009, Kevin Rudd sent a troop of 450 defense personnel to Afghanistan to increase the number of the total troops deployed in the country to 1550 in an attempt to restore peace in the country. Moreover, the government had also deployed an additional 830 troops that had been positioned at the Middle East Area of Operations to assist in securing the region from insecurity threats by anti-government groups.

The government of Australia had developed a policy document, commonly described as White Paper that outlines the future relationships between the country and other foreign nations. 18 One of the focus areas that the government will likely partner with the Middle East countries is in the establishment of better governance practices and better management of public resources. The country is committed to supporting the region through additional foreign aid to empower the people living in the region. 19 In particular, Australia intends to identify projects that will bring long-term benefits to the Middle East countries. Bibliography Australian Agency for International Development, and Alexander Downer. Au. https://www. aph. gov. au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook44p/AustUSDefence. pdf. Accessed 24 Oct 2018.