Australia and the US nuclear umbrella : from deterrence taker to deterrence maker
Journal article
Dean, Peter J., Fruehling, Stephan and O'Neil, Andrew. (2024). Australia and the US nuclear umbrella : from deterrence taker to deterrence maker. Australian Journal of International Affairs. 78(1), pp. 22-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2024.2302589
Authors | Dean, Peter J., Fruehling, Stephan and O'Neil, Andrew |
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Abstract | Historically, Australia's approach to extended nuclear deterrence can be seen as a consumer rather than contributor within the framework of its alliance with the United States. Despite invoking the nuclear umbrella in strategic guidance since the early 1990s, successive Australian governments have been reluctant to engage with operationally supporting extended nuclear deterrence and content to point to the Joint Facilities as evidence of Australia's contribution. The changing nature of the Indo-Pacific strategic balance means that this approach is increasingly misaligned with contemporary strategic risks and Australia's evolving strategic focus on deterrence. The recent intensification of defence and force posture cooperation between Canberra and Washington presents a window of opportunity for Australia to redefine its approach to the nuclear umbrella in the context of a more holistic understanding of mutual commitments in the alliance. This article outlines how Australia should bolster its contribution through more structured dialogue with the US on nuclear strategy and mutual expectations, supporting preparation for and potential execution of US nuclear operations in the Indo-Pacific, and returning to a formal position of opposing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. |
Keywords | alliance; deterrence; nuclear weapons; Australia; United States |
Year | 01 Jan 2024 |
Journal | Australian Journal of International Affairs |
Journal citation | 78 (1), pp. 22-39 |
Publisher | Routledge |
ISSN | 1035-7718 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2024.2302589 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10357718.2024.2302589 |
Open access | Published as non-open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 22-39 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
11 Jan 2024 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 17 Sep 2024 |
Additional information | © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group |
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent. | |
Place of publication | United Kingdom |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/90y98/australia-and-the-us-nuclear-umbrella-from-deterrence-taker-to-deterrence-maker
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Publisher's version
OA_O'Neil_2024_Australia_and_the_US_nuclear_umbrella.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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