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Australia
OpinionComment
Daryl Guppy
Daryl Guppy

Opinion | B-52 bomber deal with US hijacks Australia’s foreign policy independence

  • The Australian defence establishment’s military provocation of China threatens the country’s sovereignty and regional stability
  • The deal undermines Australia’s diplomatic efforts, and will make its air base a prime target in any US-China conflict

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A US Air Force B-52 bomber flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The United States is preparing to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers in northern Australia, according to an Australian news report. Photo: AP
Daryl Guppy
A bomber has only one function. It is a weapon of attack. The proposed placement by the United States of up to six B-52 bombers at Tindal air force base in Northern Australia is clearly an offensive step endorsed by the Australian government. It is a provocative move experts say is aimed squarely at China.
It could put Australia’s neighbours in Southeast Asia on edge, particularly as it follows Australia’s purchase of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the Aukus pact. These countries have been excluded from Aukus and the Quad.

The claim by Australian politicians that this US deployment does not make Tindal airbase a target in any widespread regional conflict is simply nonsense. Blinded by the prospect of millions of defence dollars flowing into a moribund regional economy, the Northern Territory government has welcomed the expansion.

The announcement, officially confirmed only after details of the plan emerged in a report by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, appears to be a carefully manufactured leak.

The plan is in substance more symbolic than evidence of any new strategic intent. The presence of B-52 bombers operating in Northern Australia airspace has been a regular part of Australian military exercises in previous years. That is nothing new, and in this sense the expansion of on-ground facilities to better handle these aircraft is of little concern.

As a statement of policy intent, the announcement is of more concern in several ways. First, the announcement is clear evidence of a split between the objectives of the military arm of the government and those of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It highlights the split between diplomats, led by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and the militarists, led by Defence Minister Richard Marles. The announcement of potential dry-season stationing of B-52 bombers is a slap in the face for diplomacy.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 1. The stationing of B-52 bombers in Australia will complicate the country’s diplomatic efforts led by Wong. Photo: Reuters
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 1. The stationing of B-52 bombers in Australia will complicate the country’s diplomatic efforts led by Wong. Photo: Reuters
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