Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result
Home Defence & Military News World Affairs News

'Beware Mad Max world of US'

by Editor
October 16, 2003
in World Affairs News
2 min read
0
14
VIEWS

AP, United States foreign policy would lead Australia into a “Mad Max world” where the US would shield itself behind missiles, the former prime minister, Paul Keating, said yesterday.

He criticised the US policy of pre-emptive strikes in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he said was giving other countries the signal to walk away from multilateral agreements and treaties.

He said small nations like Australia had a vested interest in a rule-based system around multilateral agreements.

“There is every chance that the American policy will lead us into a Mad Max world, while the US seeks to cocoon itself behind a screen of national missile defence,” Mr Keating told the 2003 CPA Australia congress in Melbourne.

He also warned against sole reliance on the US for security and trade. It was not a “smart policy” because China would soon eclipse the US as a superpower.

“China is a phenomenon and it's in our backyard and it is one of the reasons why we should look long and hard at free trade agreements with the United States. Back-lane, backdoor agreements never work in trade. They are always for the stronger party,” he said.

The world economy was entering the third and final phase of an economic wave, which would be much weaker than the second phase between 1992 and 2000.

China would be the centre of the next wave of growth, driven by domestic demand and built on small to medium enterprises.

“What is happening in China is without precedence in world history. Never before have we seen a billion-and-a-quarter people lifting themselves out at such a pace.

“While the 20th century was the century of the Americans, the chances are the 21st century will be the century of Asia and we will see for the first time an eclipse of American economic power.”

While the American alliance remained important to Australia, “looking wistfully for US protection” was leaving us vulnerable in our own region, he said.

The former prime minister said he always believed Australia should embrace its own identity and find security within Asia.

“We [should] maintain our alliance structure with the US, but essentially make our own luck. We should go to these places not as some kind of vicar of empire, or deputy of the United States, or borrowing the monarchy of another country, rather as a nation confident in ourselves . . .

“And that's not falling in love with every American administration. It's about fundamentally having a number of relationships at once.

“It's a bit promiscuous, I know.”

Previous Post

Iraq resolution passed unanimously

Next Post

Sharon buries a stillborn peace plan

Related Posts

COVID-19 resurgence on the USS Theodore Roosevelt

May 17, 2020

File; USS Theodore Roosevelt. (Photo courtesy of CNN/file) 13 Sailors have been evacuated from the USS...

U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander & Fleet Master Chief visit Sailors in Guam

June 27, 2020

Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) prepare to embark the ship...

Next Post

Sharon buries a stillborn peace plan

Latest Defense News

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

Britain, Germany jointly developing missiles: ministers

May 17, 2025
Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

Trump announces ‘full and immediate’ India-Pakistan ceasefire

May 10, 2025
Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals

May 10, 2025
J-10C fighter jet

Pakistan says India has brought neighbours ‘closer to major conflict’

May 9, 2025
North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles

North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles

May 9, 2025
China says ‘closely watching’ Ukraine situation after Russian attack

China vows to stand with Russia in face of ‘hegemonic bullying’

May 9, 2025

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Middle East Defence & Security
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • Canada Defence Force
  • General Naval News
  • US Navy News and updates
  • ADF General discussion thread
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • High Speed Train
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com