ABSTRACT
The Australia New Zealand and the United States (ANZUS) Treaty of 1951 was an expression of political expediency, assembled in haste as an acceptable compromise which satisfied the political leaderships and strategic planning of Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The alliance with Japan, the alliance with South Korea, the alliance with Australia through ANZUS, on the part of the United States are fundamentally important to the involvement of the United States and the architecture of the region. Australia's success in adapting to new and uncertain times will be an important measure of the extent to which its government and people use emerging opportunities to lock in a secure future. A decision about whether Australia's national interest is best served by continuing to fight America's enemies or by severing the American alliance will be made on a pragmatic calculus of costs and benefits, threats and opportunities.
