Published today at ASPI’s Strategist.

Some have read it as an anti-US piece. Absolutely not: I consider the US to be the indispensible power, and as I say, the world will be a much more dangerous and darker place should the US retreat into isolation. I’m also a realist. There is sufficient uncertainty, including in terms of US intent and capability, that allies like Australia need to step up.

However, complacency, a sense of entitlement, and short-term partisan politics have not positioned us well.