The Chessboard Down Under: Talking the U.S.-Australia Alliance with Patrick Buchan

Mike is joined in this episode by Patrick Buchan, director of the
U.S. Alliances Project and Fellow for Indo-Pacific security at
CSIS. Buchan is also a former official with the Australian
Department of Defense, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet,
and the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense. After discussing
Pat’s unique background as an Australian seconded to the U.S.
government, Mike and Pat move towards discussing one of America’s
Indo-Pacific allies, Australia. What are the origins of Australian
grand strategy? How does Australia’s role as a “Five Eyes” ally
impact its ability to affect American planning and strategy? How do
both the U.S. and Australia handle areas of divergence between
their interests? Finally, Mike and Pat evaluate Australia’s recent
efforts to network with other “spokes” in the U.S.-led hub and
spoke alliance system in the Indo-Pacific.