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.