Assessing The Dynamic of Australia's Contemporary Defence Policy: Self-Reliance or Forward Defence?
Satria Adya Firhansyah, Dr. Dafri Agussalim, M.A.
2024 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional
Self-reliance implies that the orientation of Australia’s defence is to protect Australia independently from the assistance of its allies, not a defence force that undergoes
“expeditionary warfare” for its distant and – questionable – dominant “superpower” ally. According to Stephan Frühling (2014), the essence of such policy is that it “sought the ability to independently use Australian forces to achieve wider foreign policy aims.” However, the decision to double down on the US shows the diminishing importance of self-reliance, a trend thatFrühling believes would continue for Australian defence policy. The diminished Self-Reliance is clearly stated in the 2023 Strategic Review, which highlighted the current strategic circumstances that Australia is facing as the Defence of Australia concept, which builds upon Self-Reliance, is no longer suitable as Canberra comes up against threats from China, in which viewed as threats beyond anything it has ever experienced since World War II (Department of Defence 2023b, p.32). Such views lead to the implementation of the Strategy of Denial, which becomes the strategic basis for the current defence policy, emphasising the importance of deterring potential adversaries from planning any attacks on Australia. White’s statement and Frühling’s scepticism towards self-reliance combined with the reality of Australia’s participation in the Global War on Terror are fascinating as to why Australia would double down on the US despite its diminishing commitment. Implementing the new Strategy of Denial is also evidence of Frühling’s finding regarding diminishing Self-Reliance in Australia’s Defence Policy. This study wants to know whether Australia has transitioned to a self-reliant defence policy, as it claimed, or that the policy is only a front to cover up its old forward defence policy, or maybe it is a policy that sits between the two defence policies.
Self-reliance implies that the orientation of Australia’s defence is to protect Australia independently from the assistance of its allies, not a defence force that undergoes
“expeditionary warfare” for its distant and – questionable – dominant “superpower” ally. According to Stephan Frühling (2014), the essence of such policy is that it “sought the ability to independently use Australian forces to achieve wider foreign policy aims.” However, the decision to double down on the US shows the diminishing importance of self-reliance, a trend thatFrühling believes would continue for Australian defence policy. The diminished Self-Reliance is clearly stated in the 2023 Strategic Review, which highlighted the current strategic circumstances that Australia is facing as the Defence of Australia concept, which builds upon Self-Reliance, is no longer suitable as Canberra comes up against threats from China, in which viewed as threats beyond anything it has ever experienced since World War II (Department of Defence 2023b, p.32). Such views lead to the implementation of the Strategy of Denial, which becomes the strategic basis for the current defence policy, emphasising the importance of deterring potential adversaries from planning any attacks on Australia. White’s statement and Frühling’s scepticism towards self-reliance combined with the reality of Australia’s participation in the Global War on Terror are fascinating as to why Australia would double down on the US despite its diminishing commitment. Implementing the new Strategy of Denial is also evidence of Frühling’s finding regarding diminishing Self-Reliance in Australia’s Defence Policy. This study wants to know whether Australia has transitioned to a self-reliant defence policy, as it claimed, or that the policy is only a front to cover up its old forward defence policy, or maybe it is a policy that sits between the two defence policies.
Kata Kunci : Defence Policy, Australia, Self-Reliance, Forward Defence, Security