The US now has access to more than half Australia’s military bases – could it drag the country unwillingly into war?
The article examines the increasing presence of US military assets across Australia, including air bases and intelligence sites like Pine Gap. Analysts express concern that this deep integration could inadvertently involve Australia in future US-led conflicts.
Why it matters
It highlights the geopolitical tension between maintaining a strong security alliance and preserving national sovereignty in the Indo-Pacific region.
Video credit: The Australian Ministry of Defence
In the near pitch blackness of a wet June morning, a US B-2 Spirit stealth bomber swoops from the sky, touching down on the outskirts of Brisbane to swiftly refuel – engines still running – at one of the US air force’s key allied bases. Before the sun is up, the nuclear-capable warplane is back in the air.
RAAF Base Amberley, about 50km south-west of Brisbane, is a vital staging point for US military operations across the region. But it is hardly alone.
This map shows every military base in Australia, which includes US- and Australian-run bases.
Analysts warn of a “saturation” of the continent by the US military, and argue that Australia’s most important security ally could drag the country unwillingly into war.
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