The request for a ship from President Joe Biden’s surrogates was not unusual, yet the request was refused, which deserves closer examination. The primary reason given was that the Pacific region is a priority – a valid point, yet the bypassing of the significant Red Sea route and the defense insurance policy that the United States provides cannot be overlooked. Since World War II, Australia has never turned down essential requests from the United States, and it has always relied on the strong support of a major ally.
The three potential explanations for the ship refusal are intertwined. The Albanese government seeks to demonstrate independence from the United States, signaling political positioning regarding the war in Gaza and seeking to retain access to Chinese markets. Australia’s ability to defend itself is called into question, as indicated by the depletion of its naval forces and the inability to thwart increasingly sophisticated threats such as drones. Furthermore, Australia’s defense spending falls short compared to the global average, as well as that of other countries.
The military’s inability to adequately fulfill its tasks is evident in the refusal of the request for a ship. The government’s reallocation plan for the Australian Defense Strategic Review 2023 may not provide the necessary funding to address significant capacity issues. The refusal to contribute a ship reflects failure in certain areas of defense, and questions remain about whether the acquisition of nuclear submarines efficiently addresses these shortcomings. Evidently, Australia’s contribution to the collective security of the Indo-Pacific and the maintenance of the global rules-based order are not adequately addressed at this time.