A Plan For US–Australia–India Cooperation In Indo–Pacific – Analysis

[Galaxy]

A Plan For US–Australia–India Cooperation In Indo–Pacific – Analysis


November 4, 2011

By Lisa Curtis, Walter Lohman, Rory Medcalf, Lydia Powell, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Ph.D. and Andrew Shearer.

Liberal democratic powers in the Indo–Pacific share a strategic interest in enhancing a web of relationships that promotes economic and political stability, security, continued free and open trade throughout the region, and democratic governance. U.S.–India–Australia trilateral cooperation should be a critical element of this underpinning.

U.S. security pacts with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and the Philippines will remain the key pillars of U.S. foreign policy in Asia. For its part, Australia's security in the region relies heavily on a robust U.S. alliance, in conjunction with partnerships with Asian powers, and Australia's own military and diplomatic capabilities. While India's regional engagement is limited in scope, New Delhi is slowly building and strengthening political and economic ties as well as enhancing its naval diplomacy in the region. India signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2009 and joined the East Asian Summit (EAS) as a founding member in 2005. It signed an FTA with Japan in 2011 and is strengthening its multifaceted relationship with the U.S.

The U.S., Australia, and India can reinforce and strengthen their unilateral and bilateral efforts in the region by coordinating more broadly in areas of shared strategic, economic, and security interests. This paper examines the prospects for enhanced trilateral dialogue and cooperation among the U.S., Australia, and India as an important component of an overall strategy that enhances collaboration and prepares them to handle various exigencies that confront their shared interests and the broader order that they seek to promote.

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[Zebra]

Canberra again delays implementation of Australia-US defence trade treaty

By Jon Grevatt
8/22/2012

A parliamentary defence committee in Australia has further delayed implementation of proposed legislation intended to improve defence trade relations with the United States.

In a report tabled to the Australian Senate on 15 August, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee said the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) needed to undertake additional "groundwork" before the legislation - the Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011 - could be enacted.

Central to the committee's concerns is the claimed lack of DoD consultation with agencies in Australia about the impact of the legislation on "intangible" aspects of defence research and development, and how enactment of the bill might be affected by US reform of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

The report noted: "Unless [the DoD] can provide assurances to the contrary, the committee believes that it would be folly to proceed with the bill at this time while the resolution of important matters remains outstanding." The report said that it expected the DoD to "find a solution suitable for all stakeholders" by the end of 2012.

Canberra again delays implementation of Australia-US defence trade treaty