When I was studying history at high school, I asked my grandmother about what life was like during World War II.
Her response was simple and direct:
“The Brits left us in the lurch during World War II.”
“Thank God for the Americans.”
“They really saved our bacon.”
Now, I’m not sure the British did leave us in the lurch in World War II.
It was a horrendous conflict, and in their defence: they had a bit on.
But that exchange says a lot about the history of Australia’s defence policy.
Although Australia and the US had fought side by side in the First World War, up until World War II, Australia’s traditional alliance partner had been Great Britain.
That changed in 1941 when Australian Prime Minister John Curtin said Australia should “look to America” during the depths of the second world war and only three weeks after Pearl Harbour.
Since that time and the formalisation of the ANZUS alliance in 1951our defence partner-ship with our ally, the United States, has been the foundation of Australia’s defence and security. Ensuring generations since my grandmother’s time have never had to feel the same unease.
Over those many years, our defence alliance has built a deep bond of friendship and trust between our nations – ties that are nurtured by organisations like the Australian American Leadership Dialogue.
We’ve served together in conflict – in World War I, World War II, in Korea, in Vietnam, in Iraq, in Afghanistan.
Australia and the United States have an unbroken record in this respect.
We train together, we share intelligence.
Australians in the top end look forward every year to the annual US Marine Rotational Force deployment, where growing numbers of US personnel train with Australian troops, and endear themselves to the locals.
We support each other’s capability needs.
In 2025, in perhaps the ultimate symbol of trust between our two countries, we share technology and IP on the most advanced military capability on the planet, through AU-KUS.
In 2025, AUKUS is a great example of how, together, Australia and the United States are doing more to keep the Indo-Pacific secure.
And it enjoys continued commitment to its delivery across the political divide in Australia.
Over nearly three quarters of a century of our great Alliance with the United States, we have always been sovereign, independent countries with our own ways of doing things
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We know that the Trump Administration envisages a different role for the United States, but I remain confident, as it has always been true, that two countries can be the strong-est of allies without agreeing on every single element of policy.
Our defence alliance has never been stronger – and it has room to grow.
And our friendship is deeper than our defence ties.
The United States continues to be Australia’s largest source of foreign direct investment, and despite the challenges of recent times, two-way goods and services trade has more than doubled since the Australia US Free Trade Agreement came into force.
Earlier this year my teenage daughter had the opportunity to dance at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry….Disneyland.
This occurred in April, so the federal election campaign took a back seat in our house-hold to the excitement of a first trip to LA.
The welcome and hospitality my daughter and her 40 fellow dancers received left them all wanting more of America.
Their joy and excitement from a 2-week trip to one city is a great symbol of the shared values and bonds that exist between Australians and Americans.
Bonds strengthened in combat on the battlefield together.
Bonds delivering gains through business links.
Bonds deepened by Australians and Americans working together through the Australia America Leadership Dialogue to ensure we remain friends and allies to meet the challenges of the future.
We look forward to the discussions over the coming days as we continue the dialogue and partnership between our two great nations.
Thank you.