{"id":12273,"date":"2025-07-22T02:11:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T02:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/12273\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T02:11:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T02:11:11","slug":"calls-to-cancel-australias-u-s-military-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/12273\/","title":{"rendered":"Calls to cancel Australia\u2019s U.S. military ties"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the U.S. expands its military footprint across Australia and the Pacific, peace advocates warn that we\u2019re being dragged into a devastating war not of our making, writes Bevan Ramsden<\/a>.<\/p>\n

THE UNITED STATES is increasing its military footprint in Australia, the Pacific and Pacific Rim countries as it prepares for war against China. In Australia, the Force Posture Agreement (FPA<\/a>) and large-scale war exercises such as Talisman Sabre<\/a> and Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC<\/a>) integrate our Australian Defence Force (ADF<\/a>) with the U.S. military and under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in preparation for such a war scenario.<\/p>\n

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN<\/a>) is calling for the cancellation of both the FPA and AUKUS<\/a> as steps to keep Australia out of such a potentially disastrous war.<\/p>\n

The United States is gearing up for war with China, most likely over Taiwan, but it cannot fight such a war from the U.S. West Coast. It needs the cooperation and support of its Pacific and Pacific Rim allies to ensure unimpeded access to their seaports, airports, logistics support and equipment, and munitions manufacturing and storage facilities.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the U.S. needs its armed forces and those of its allies to be fully integrated and under its Indo-Pacific Command. Exercises such as Talisman Sabre and RIMPAC are aimed at developing that integration and operational experience.<\/p>\n

\"Pacific<\/a><\/p>\n

This U.S. process of setting up its allies to support a war against China has been proceeding with an ever-increasing pace since the 2011 announcement by U.S. President Obama<\/a>, with the effusive support of Prime Minister Gillard<\/a>, of the U.S. \u201cPivot to Asia<\/a>\u201d strategy. Subsequently, the FPA was signed in 2014 between the U.S. and Australian Governments.<\/p>\n

The FPA lasts for 25 years and can be terminated by either party with one year\u2019s notice. It is crucially important in enabling the U.S. military build-up in Australia.<\/p>\n

Article II states:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2018…this Agreement provides the necessary authorisations for the United States to conduct mutually determined activities under the Force Posture Initiatives in, from or through Australia.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Article IV of the FPA states:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

United States Forces and United States Contractors shall have unimpeded access to and use of Agreed Facilities and Areas for activities undertaken in connection with this Agreement.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Australia hereby grants to the United States operational control of Agreed Facilities and Areas.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Australian<\/a><\/p>\n

Senator David Shoebridge<\/a> questioned the Department of Defence regarding \u2018Agreed Facilities and Areas\u2019 and was told that these include:<\/p>\n


\n\tDarwin and Northern Territory training areas such as the Mount Bundey Training Area, the Bradshaw Field Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range;
\n\tairfields and facilities at RAAF Amberley (Queensland), Curtin (Western Australia), Scherger (QLD), Learmonth (WA) and Tindal (NT);
\n\tHMAS Stirling in WA for porting of UK and U.S. nuclear-powered submarines; and
\n\tLogistics Centre at Bandiana (Victoria). <\/p>\n

Part 3 of Article VII states:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2018As mutually determined by the Parties, aircraft, vehicles, and vessels operated by or for United States Forces shall have access to aerial ports and seaports of Australia and other locations, for the delivery to, storage and maintenance in, and removal from the territory of Australia of United States Forces\u2019 prepositioned materiel.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In addition to its Bandiana logistics centre, the U.S. has used the holding of the Talisman Sabre war exercises to expand its stores and munitions centres in Australia by opening a new facility in Townsville.<\/p>\n

The U.S. military publication Defence News<\/a> reports that:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The U.S. Army will test a nascent capability to effectively preposition equipment and supplies forward in the Pacific theater in Australia during the large-scale exercise Talisman Sabre kicking off this month, according to U.S. Army Pacific Command commander Gen. Ronald Clark.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

The Army has so far established one center in the Philippines and one in Australia, for which the service is directly responsible. The other services are tasked with building out more centers across the first and second island chains in the Pacific, key archipelagos stretching from Japan through Taiwan and down to Borneo in the south Pacific.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The U.S. also has Papua New Guinea in its sights for pre-positioning munitions and materials and use of its ports and airfields, having signed a Defence Co-operation Agreement (DCA) with PNG in 2023.<\/p>\n

\"Australia<\/a><\/p>\n

The official\u00a0text<\/a>\u00a0of the DCA, which will be in force for 15 years, was made public in June 2023. The DCA grants the U.S \u201cunimpeded access\u201d to six mutually agreed facilities, ports and airports, including the U.S., PNG and\u00a0Australian-developed<\/a>\u00a0Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island.<\/p>\n

This rapid U.S. military build-up in Australia and the Pacific Rim countries to the north testifies to the seriousness of the preparations for war against China, a war which will unavoidably involve Australia and other regional U.S. allies.<\/p>\n

Such Australian involvement in a U.S. war against China, our major trading partner, would be a catastrophe for our people. Such a war would wreck our economy, causing major job losses and shortages of essential items. It would likely cause a serious deterioration in community relations, as well as inviting retaliatory strikes on U.S. military installations and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n

IPAN held recently a well-attended webinar <\/a>to launch a nationwide campaign calling for cancellation of AUKUS and the Force Posture Agreement. Speakers at this event emphasised the dangers posed by these two Agreements and the role they would play in integrating Australia into a U.S. war on China.<\/p>\n

Doug Cameron<\/a>, former ALP Senator and member of Labor Against War<\/a>, said:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should make it clear to the U.S. that we will retain our sovereign right not to be caught up in a war with a major trading partner and we should insist that we will not engage in a war over Taiwan.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"In<\/a><\/p>\n

Retired Major-General Michael Smith<\/a> said:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One thing is certain\u00a0\u2014 the worst possible outcome for Australia is war between China and the U.S., in which we become involved, and most likely would suffer collateral damage.

\n\u00a0

\nWe need to withdraw military assets from the South China Sea, where so-called freedom of navigation operations are likely to cause a major conflict.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Human Rights Lawyer and journalist Kellie Tranter<\/a> said:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The combined effect of the Force Posture Agreement and other defence agreements with the United States is to nullify Australia’s capacity to make independent decisions about war avoidance and war fighting.<\/p>\n

Together, they lock us into providing the United States, first, with secured areas under its control, from which it may conduct a war; and second, with comprehensive logistical support for any such folly.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Recently, Prime Minister Albanese refused<\/a> to be drawn by U.S. Defence Under-Secretary Elbridge Colby<\/a> into committing Australia to a war against China over Taiwan and also refused to increase Australian military expenditure up to 3.5 per cent of GDP as urged by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

PM Albanese and his government should be encouraged to stand firm against this U.S. pressure, chart an independent course for Australia, keep us out of foreign wars and help promote peaceful relations in our region.<\/p>\n

The campaign by IPAN calling on the Government to cancel AUKUS and terminate the Force Posture Agreement would be significant steps in this direction. This call can be signed here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Bevan Ramsden<\/a> is an ex-telecommunications engineer and a long-time peace activist who advocates for Australia\u2019s independence. He was a member of the coordinating committee of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN<\/a>) for a number of years and is the editor of its monthly publication, ‘Voice’.<\/p>\n

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