The developments in Greenland suggest Australia will soon need to make a choice between the stability of international law and the instability of America’s grab for power. It won’t be able to do both.
I think Mark Carney shattered the illusion of the “international rules‑based order” yesterday. It has always been a misnomer for American imperialism, even if that reality was obscured by the language of shared values and rule‑making. Australia and Europe have long been willing participants in this system, benefiting materially from American imperial capitalism and military protection. This arrangement felt acceptable because it was invited and mutually advantageous. But as the United States has shifted from consensual leadership to coercive behaviour, the scales have fallen from the eyes of its allies. Whether this moment reflects a temporary aberration in a rogue presidency or the emergence of a new world order remains to be seen. A compelling analysis of Australia’s position within this hierarchy is Clinton Fernandes’ Sub‑Imperial Power, which outlines how Australia operates within, and reinforces, this broader imperial system. I wrote a review of it here: https://callumscolumn.substack.com/p/book-review-sub-imperial-power-by
Personally, I think we should cancel the US 'Virginia' submarine arm of AUKUS and focus on building the more advanced 'Astute' subs with the UK.
We could have had French nuclear subs, but Morrison is a fan of the US.
If the USA invades Greenland, just as Russia invaded Ukraine and China threatens against Taiwan, then we must condemn the US and side with Europe and international law.
We have considerable trade leverage over both the US and China.
We should use it to support freedom against national predators like Trump.
Excellent diagnosis, but the choice isn't just US vs China. There is a third option: We choose Australia.
As others have argued, we need an "Echidna Strategy" of Armed Neutrality:
- Denial > Projection: Invest in missiles, drones, and mines to defend our approaches, rather than nuclear subs to fight US wars in the South China Sea.
- Remove Tripwires: End the foreign bases (Darwin/Tindal) that paint a target on our back for conflicts we didn't choose.
Mark Carney just admitted the "Rules-Based Order" was a "useful fiction" and that Canada is pivoting to "Variable Geometry", partnering with everyone to secure sovereignty.
If Canada can admit the Emperor has no clothes, so can we.
I'd describe this as a overly diplomatic characterization of the US.
Frankly, the US is both a producer of much goodness, and a recidivist war crime state with a (8-9 decade) history of dodging almost all international accountability for its international war crimes.
The US has interfered unilaterally with regime change on so many occasions, in so many variations, in every continent and ocean, for so long now, that our Australian complicity with some of that makes us want to pretend they're not nearly as bad as US FoI releases, and international whistleblower releases, demonstrate they are. At some stage we might need to take an honest appraisal of our relationship, and admit to the harm we are (slightly) complicit with, and admit that history teaches us that staying in these alliances will cost us our participation in ever worse war crimes, and war casualties, and war expenses in future. That stage has yet to be reached for most Australians. Perhaps we are coming to this realization slower than those (more obviously) oppressed in the US because we are so accustomed to turning a blind eye to oppression by authoritarianism and murder by Military Industrial Complex, both done in our name, both done by those we vote for.
On this week's clearest example of home grown authoritarianism
(the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, comments Senator Mehreen Faruqi:)
“Our society must be one that refuses to accept hatred - whether it’s attacking a queer person for who they love, a Muslim woman for wearing a hijab, a Jewish man for his kippah, or a trans person for their gender identity. We must tackle hate and racism for everyone.
The Government must urgently fund and implement the National Anti-Racism Framework, which provides a blueprint for an anti-racist society that protects all racially marginalised groups.”
I think Mark Carney shattered the illusion of the “international rules‑based order” yesterday. It has always been a misnomer for American imperialism, even if that reality was obscured by the language of shared values and rule‑making. Australia and Europe have long been willing participants in this system, benefiting materially from American imperial capitalism and military protection. This arrangement felt acceptable because it was invited and mutually advantageous. But as the United States has shifted from consensual leadership to coercive behaviour, the scales have fallen from the eyes of its allies. Whether this moment reflects a temporary aberration in a rogue presidency or the emergence of a new world order remains to be seen. A compelling analysis of Australia’s position within this hierarchy is Clinton Fernandes’ Sub‑Imperial Power, which outlines how Australia operates within, and reinforces, this broader imperial system. I wrote a review of it here: https://callumscolumn.substack.com/p/book-review-sub-imperial-power-by
Personally, I think we should cancel the US 'Virginia' submarine arm of AUKUS and focus on building the more advanced 'Astute' subs with the UK.
We could have had French nuclear subs, but Morrison is a fan of the US.
If the USA invades Greenland, just as Russia invaded Ukraine and China threatens against Taiwan, then we must condemn the US and side with Europe and international law.
We have considerable trade leverage over both the US and China.
We should use it to support freedom against national predators like Trump.
Yes, PM Albanese cannot pretend that our silence over Greenland has no implications about our stance on Taiwan
Excellent diagnosis, but the choice isn't just US vs China. There is a third option: We choose Australia.
As others have argued, we need an "Echidna Strategy" of Armed Neutrality:
- Denial > Projection: Invest in missiles, drones, and mines to defend our approaches, rather than nuclear subs to fight US wars in the South China Sea.
- Remove Tripwires: End the foreign bases (Darwin/Tindal) that paint a target on our back for conflicts we didn't choose.
Mark Carney just admitted the "Rules-Based Order" was a "useful fiction" and that Canada is pivoting to "Variable Geometry", partnering with everyone to secure sovereignty.
If Canada can admit the Emperor has no clothes, so can we.
Trade with China. Talk to the US. Trust neither.
I'd describe this as a overly diplomatic characterization of the US.
Frankly, the US is both a producer of much goodness, and a recidivist war crime state with a (8-9 decade) history of dodging almost all international accountability for its international war crimes.
The US has interfered unilaterally with regime change on so many occasions, in so many variations, in every continent and ocean, for so long now, that our Australian complicity with some of that makes us want to pretend they're not nearly as bad as US FoI releases, and international whistleblower releases, demonstrate they are. At some stage we might need to take an honest appraisal of our relationship, and admit to the harm we are (slightly) complicit with, and admit that history teaches us that staying in these alliances will cost us our participation in ever worse war crimes, and war casualties, and war expenses in future. That stage has yet to be reached for most Australians. Perhaps we are coming to this realization slower than those (more obviously) oppressed in the US because we are so accustomed to turning a blind eye to oppression by authoritarianism and murder by Military Industrial Complex, both done in our name, both done by those we vote for.
On this week's clearest example of home grown authoritarianism
(the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, comments Senator Mehreen Faruqi:)
“Our society must be one that refuses to accept hatred - whether it’s attacking a queer person for who they love, a Muslim woman for wearing a hijab, a Jewish man for his kippah, or a trans person for their gender identity. We must tackle hate and racism for everyone.
The Government must urgently fund and implement the National Anti-Racism Framework, which provides a blueprint for an anti-racist society that protects all racially marginalised groups.”