Australia’s Foreign Policy white paper a plea for US to remain engaged in Indo-Pacific

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press at the White House in Washington yesterday. Photo: AFP

At the heart of Australia’s new Foreign Policy white paper is a plea for the United States under Donald Trump to remain engaged in the Indo-Pacific and not to abandon its global leadership role.

The white paper clearly aligns Australia with the traditional US view of alliance relationships and global activism rather than the populist, protectionist and anti-globalist view pushed by elements of the Trump administration and sometimes by Trump himself.

In this debate — which continues to play out inside the White House — Australia has chosen to deliberately, if politely, take sides for the sake of its own trade and security interests in the region.

“The Government recognises there is greater debate and uncertainty in the United States about the costs and benefits of its leadership in parts of the international system,” the paper says.

“We believe that the United States’ engagement to support a rules-based order is in its own interests and in the interests of wider international stability and prosperity.

“Without sustained US support, the effectiveness and liberal character of the rules-based order will decline.”

The paper therefore argues that Australia needs to do its bit to encourage US leadership in the region by maintaining the strength of the alliance, keeping defence spending strong and supporting US military coalitions.

It says Australia needs to adapt to the relative decline in US influence in the region compared to the rising economic and strategic power of China, while trying to strengthen relations with both countries.

It argues that Australia should do what it can to ensure that economic tension between the US and China does not undermine the global trading system or fuel static rivalry, but in truth Australia’s ability to influence these broader issues is marginal.

While Trump has alarmed Canberra with his America-first protectionist rhetoric, given his early decision to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership and his sceptism towards multilateral institutions including the United Nations, the reality of his first ten months in office has been less dramatic than his rhetoric.

Trump has backed away from the punitive trade tariffs against China which he promised during last year’s election campaign, he has shown a commitment to Asia by making his longest trip as president to the region and he has called for a substantial and ongoing US military presence in the Pacific.

The departure from the White House of Steve Bannon — the administration’s most powerful populist, protectionist and isolationist — has strengthened the hand of more mainstream elements inside the administration, although Bannon continues to advocate the populist approach through his Breitbart publication.

The foreign policy paper recognises the limits of Australia’s influence in these matters. But it also states clearly the common sense fact that free trade and close military alliances are essential to Australia’s future prosperity and that it is Canberra duty to encourage the Trump administration not to walk away from these pillars of the post-war era.

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia