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United States, explained.
Most Australians say the alliance makes us safer, but also makes Australia more likely to be drawn into a war in Asia.
Chart of the week: Trump and the US-Australia allianceChart of the week: Trump and the US-Australia alliance
About the author
Natasha Kassam
Natasha Kassam was Director of the Lowy Institute's Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program from 2019 to 2022, directing the annual Lowy Institute Poll and researching China’s politics, Taiwan, and Australia-China relations.
Donald Trump is about to be the third US President in history to be impeached. Australians won’t be surprised – he’s never been popular here. But Australia’s alliance with the United States is another story. No matter who is sitting in the Oval Office, be it George W. Bush or Barack Obama, the Lowy Institute Poll shows support for the alliance is remarkably resilient.
This doesn’t stop Australians from viewing the United States as in relative decline to China. And most say the alliance makes us safer, but also makes Australia more likely to be drawn into a war in Asia. These shifting dynamics are shaking the foundations of Australian foreign policy. Older Australians see the Trump presidency as an aberration; younger Australians may think he is the new normal. Impeachment in the House and an acquittal in the Senate could polarise Australians even further.
Natasha Kassam
