Two of Australia's most experienced former foreign ministers have issued a stark warning to the Albanese government, urging an urgent reassessment of the nation's foundational alliance with the United States. Their call comes in direct response to recent military and diplomatic actions by the Trump administration, which they describe as alarmingly volatile.
A 'Fiercely Unpredictable' Ally
Bob Carr, who served as Australia's foreign minister from 2012 to 2013, stated that the United States under Donald Trump has become a "fiercely unpredictable" ally. He argued this shift presents a "colossal challenge" for Australian foreign and defence policy.
Carr's comments follow a series of dramatic interventions by the US. Earlier this month, American airstrikes and a raid in Venezuela led to the seizure of that country's president, Nicolás Maduro. Subsequently, Trump has publicly threatened to "take over Greenland", asserting the US would act "whether they like it or not".
"Our US ally is fiercely unpredictable and dedicated ruthlessly to American national interests, without any pretence of being committed to universal values or a global, rules-based order," Carr told Guardian Australia. He characterised this as an "utterly different America" from the one that long underpinned alliance rhetoric about shared values.
Calls to Abandon AUKUS and Chart an Independent Course
Gareth Evans, foreign minister between 1988 and 1996, was even more direct. He declared that Trump's recent actions "put beyond doubt that his America has zero respect for international law, morality, and the interests of its allies and partners".
Evans explicitly called for the controversial AUKUS security pact to be abandoned. He labelled the multi-billion dollar submarine project a "crazy irony", arguing it commits Australia to a capability that might draw it into conflicts not in its national interest, with no guaranteed US support in return.
"It’s a wake-up call that can no longer be ignored by the Australian government," Evans said. "It’s now more than time for the Aukus submarine project to be abandoned, and our defence capability to be built in our own interests, not those of a now totally unreliable United States."
Australian Government's Cautious Stance and Alliance Implications
The Australian government's public response to the US operations in Venezuela and the rhetoric on Greenland has been notably measured. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated his government was "monitoring developments", calling for adherence to international law and a peaceful transition.
Carr suggested this cautious approach of keeping "our head down and watch closely" was wise for now, given the uncertainty of Trump's "burst of unilateralism". However, both he and Evans stressed that the long-term implications for the alliance are profound and require immediate, serious contemplation.
The debate is set against a backdrop of significant financial commitment. Australia has pledged over $4.5 billion to build US shipbuilding capacity as part of the AUKUS framework, a pact Trump endorsed in a meeting with Albanese in October. The Pentagon has since placed the agreement under review following the new administration's swearing-in.
Further complicating the alliance landscape, the US government separately withdrew from 66 international organisations and treaties in January, including UN commissions on peacekeeping and international law. For the former ministers, these cumulative actions signal a fundamental rupture in the post-war order Australia has long relied upon, demanding a strategic rethink of its most critical partnership.
