Since 1951, the US-Australia alliance has been a bedrock of Australian foreign policy. Republican and Democratic presidents have consistently described Australia as one of the United States’ most valuable allies, not least because Australia is the only country to have fought alongside the United States in every major war since World War I.
The Trump Presidency has spurred renewed focus on an alliance that has been reinvigorated by the launch of the Friends of Australia Caucus in Congress and the '100 years of mateship' campaign. But the alliance also faces increased scrutiny due to a challenging security outlook in Australia's Indo-Pacific region and debate within the United States about the costs of sustaining global leadership.
At this event, four Fulbright Scholars discussed the future of the alliance, followed by audience Q&A with panelists.
The event was jointly presented by the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and the Australian-American Fulbright Commission.
Professor Brendon O'Connor
Professor of US Politics and US Foreign Relations, United States Studies Centre (jointly appointed with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney)
Brendon O'Connor is a Professor of US Politics and US Foreign Relations. He is jointly appointed between the United States Studies Centre and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (in the Discipline of Government and International Relations) at the University of Sydney. He is the editor of seven books on anti-Americanism and has also published articles and books on American welfare policy, presidential politics, US foreign policy, and Australian-American relations.
Clare O'Neill
Royal Australian Engineer, Office of the Chief of Army
Clare O’Neill is a Royal Australian Engineer currently serving in the Office of the Chief of Army. Clare has experience in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and Papua New Guinea. She has been the Chief of Army Scholar and a Fulbright Scholar at Georgetown University, and member of the Australian Command and Staff College Art of War program. Clare is the Founder of Grounded Curiosity, Defence Entrepreneurs Forum Australia and Postern Association, and member of the Australian American Young Leadership Dialogue and Military Writers Guild. Clare is a Chartered Professional Engineer with Master of Arts in International Relations, and Master of Military and Defence Studies.
Marvin Alfaro
Foreign Service Officer, US Department of State
Marvin Alfaro is a Foreign Service Officer employed by the US Department State. He was a 2011 US Fulbright Scholar to Australia, awarded a CSIRO Fulbright grant, working with oceanographers at UNSW Sydney and CSIRO Hobart.
Dougal Robinson
Non-Resident Fellow, Foreign Policy and Defence Program, United States Studies Centre
Dougal Robinson is a Non-Resident Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program, based in Washington DC. He is concurrently a Fulbright Scholar in Strategic Studies and International Economics at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
