ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the US security perspectives on the Indo-Pacific region and US strategy and then turns to an assessment of the value of the US-Australia alliance. America’s preference for democracy is often paired with an idealized conception of the international system that is governed by rules and norms where institutions play a major role. The election of an unconventional politician, Donald Trump, to the US presidency unleashed a number of uncertainties regarding the future of US-China relations. Throughout the Cold War, the United States consistently characterized the US-Australia alliance as ‘one of the cornerstones of peace and stability in the Pacific. Thus, the future health and vibrancy of the US-Australian alliance will likely depend extensively on the forthcoming trajectory of US-China relations and the question of whether Washington and Beijing can transcend the competitive dynamics of their fourth phase and, instead, establish a mutually-beneficial modus vivendi.
