Relationship dossier
Australia
United States
Relationship assessment
Australia and the United States maintain a close alliance spanning defense, intelligence, technology and trade.
Australia toward United States
+85Australia has maintained its alliance with the United States under the ANZUS Treaty, cooperated with US forces in military operations, and participates in Five Eyes intelligence cooperation. Australia joined the United States and United Kingdom in announcing AUKUS in 2021, including plans for cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines and advanced defense capabilities.
United States toward Australia
+85The United States maintains its alliance with Australia under the ANZUS Treaty and has developed extensive defense and intelligence cooperation with the Australian government. In 2021, the United States joined Australia and the United Kingdom in announcing AUKUS, including plans to support Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. The two governments also have a bilateral free-trade agreement in force since 2005.
Overall relationship
+85The relationship is structured by a longstanding security alliance, sustained intelligence and defense cooperation, and formal trade arrangements. AUKUS represents a major extension of security and technology cooperation. These durable ties underpin a close partnership, while policy and implementation differences remain possible.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Australia and the United States maintain a close, durable alliance supported by the ANZUS Treaty, intelligence cooperation and extensive defense collaboration. Both governments have also cooperated in military operations and established AUKUS to deepen security and advanced-technology ties. The relationship includes a bilateral free-trade agreement, alongside occasional differences over policy and implementation.
Key developments
Australia, New Zealand and the United States signed the ANZUS Treaty, establishing a trilateral security arrangement.
The Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement entered into force.
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced AUKUS, including cooperation on Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.
Major uncertainties
- The future scope and implementation of AUKUS projects remain subject to policy and legislative decisions.
- The extent to which trade and industrial-policy differences will affect bilateral cooperation is uncertain.