{
  "id": "R42822",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R42822",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 416556,
      "date": "2012-10-26",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:51:59.926607",
      "title": "Australia and the U.S. Rebalancing to Asia Strategy",
      "summary": "Australia, a traditionally staunch U.S. ally, is exploring ways to support the U.S. strategy of increasing its involvement in Asia\u2014often called the rebalancing to Asia strategy\u2014at a time when Australia has embarked on significant cuts to its defense budget. Australia is seeking to strengthen its long-standing defense alliance with the United States without jeopardizing its important trade relationship with China. Australia\u2019s strategic geography is increasingly focused on its north and west at a time when the United States is also increasingly focused on the same areas, namely Southeast Asia and the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean. An analysis of Australia\u2019s role in the United States\u2019 Asia strategy is particularly relevant as Congress considers future U.S. strategy, force structure, and defense procurement decisions.\nAustralia\u2019s place in the U.S. rebalancing to Asia strategy is an important one to a large extent because the United States and Australia share many values and strategic perspectives. Australia\u2019s strategic worldview generally is one that views the United States as a force for good in the world and in Australia\u2019s Indo-Pacific region. The May 2012 Australian force posture review gives insight into Australian strategic thinking relative to its defense posture. While there is strong support for further developing bilateral defense cooperation with the United States, planned Australian defense budget cuts, and their potential impact on Australian defense capability plans, may place limits on the extent to which Australian defense capabilities can grow in the years ahead. That said, Australia has a relatively strong economy and a political context that could lead to more defense capability development in the future. What is clear is that there is strong bipartisan elite and popular support in Australia for remaining a close and valuable strategic ally of the United States.\nDuring President Obama\u2019s visit to Australia in 2011, he and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the deployment of up to 2,500 United States Marines to Australia\u2019s Northern Territory. This deployment is one of the most tangible examples of the rebalancing to Asia strategy, and also demonstrates Australia\u2019s resolve to support that strategy. When in Australia, President Obama stated, \u201cOur alliance [with Australia] is going to be indispensible to our shared future, the security we need and the prosperity that we seek, not only in this region but around the world.\u201d The Marine rotational deployment announcement, and subsequent disclosures of additional plans to further expand the United States\u2019 already strong alliance relationship with Australia, did much to give the rebalancing to Asia strategy military substance. It was also during his speech to the Australian Parliament that President Obama pledged not to cut the United States\u2019 Asia Pacific force posture as cuts to the U.S. defense budget are considered. \nAustralia\u2019s decision to place renewed emphasis on its strategic relationship with the United States within the context of America\u2019s rebalancing to Asia strategy makes its partnership with the United States a valuable piece of U.S. strategic engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. Australia\u2019s decision to strengthen its American alliance may also reflect growing uncertainty in Canberra with the evolving correlates of power in Asia.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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          "encoding": "utf-8",
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42822",
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Economic Policy",
    "Energy Policy",
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}