ABSTRACT
Australia’s alliance with the United States in many ways underpins its status
as an Asia-Pacific power. Without the alliance, Australia would be seen
more as a smallish country of 20 million people tucked down at the bottom
end of Southeast Asia. As it is, Australia’s closeness to America and its
influence with Washington transforms Australia’s regional status: it allows
Australia to punch above its weight in regional and, indeed, international
security organizations.
