U.S. – Australia Relations

Australia-U.S. Alliance "Vibrant and Vital," State Dept. Says

Washington, D.C. — 12 March 2007

Countries cooperate on counterterrorism, public health efforts

The vibrant alliance between the United States and Australia is critical for regional and global security, according to a fact sheet issued by the Department of State March 10.

"Australia is a key counterterrorism partner of the United States," the fact sheet says. "It not only provides critical counterterrorism assistance and training to other countries in the region, it also maintains a vigorous domestic counterterrorism posture."

The fact sheet notes that Australia invoked the Australia-New Zealand-U.S. (ANZUS) treaty after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and sent combat troops to fight alongside American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The United States and Australia also coordinate closely on public health, science, and crisis response strategies for avian influenza (bird flu) and other diseases, the fact sheet says.

Following is the text of the fact sheet:

(begin fact sheet)

U.S. Department of State
Fact Sheet
Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
March 10, 2006

The United States and Australia: An Alliance of Friends

The relationship between America and Australia is vibrant and vital. Together, we will meet the challenges and the perils of our own time... We value, more than ever, the unbroken friendship between the Australian and the American peoples." - President George W. Bush

The U.S. and Australia have been treaty allies for almost 55 years. The two countries have a proud history of working together to help maintain the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

A BROAD PARTNERSHIP

The unique bonds between the American and Australian peoples are a hallmark of our alliance. Thousands of American and Australian students enroll annually in each other's universities and more than 4,000 Americans and Australians have studied in each other's countries as Fulbright scholars. Through our shared interests and common values, we work together to promote security, democracy, and human rights around the world.

STRENGTHENED LINKS

In the past few years, the U.S.-Australian relationship has risen to a whole new level, with stronger ties across a number of fields. We coordinate closely on public health, science, and crisis response strategies for avian influenza and other diseases.

Each year, the U.S. exports about $19.8 billion in goods and services to Australia and imports about $10.3 billion worth. In 2004, the U.S. and Australia signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which came into force on January 1, 2005. The FTA eliminated duties on 99% of manufactured goods traded between the two countries, increased our shared trade, and created more economic opportunity for our citizens.

The FTA strengthens the positions of both countries within the modern global economy. Australia was a founding partner of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

A CLOSE DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP

U.S. and Australian forces train and deploy together, and we have a close intelligence-sharing relationship. U.S. and Australian troops have fought alongside each other in every major military conflict since World War I. Our close friendship was deepened in the hard won battles of World War II and formalized in the 1951 ANZUS treaty.

The U.S.-Australian Alliance is also a vibrant partnership for facing the evolving threats of the modern world. Australia is a key counterterrorism partner of the United States. It not only provides critical counterterrorism assistance and training to other countries in the region, it also maintains a vigorous domestic counterterrorism posture. Australia invoked the ANZUS Treaty after the 9/11 Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States, and sent combat troops to fight alongside American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Australia was one of the founding partners of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and has been a strong ally in our efforts to have Iran end its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities.

Australia is also one of our most stalwart Asia-Pacific allies and a key partner in our security strategy in the region. Australia works closely with the United States on the Joint Strike Fighter and the Ballistic Missile Defense programs. The result has been greater security, not only in the region but also worldwide.

(end fact sheet)

Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov

Original document from usinfo.state.gov.

Last update Monday, 19 November 2007