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Australia’s Nuclear Dilemma: Dependence, Deterrence or Denial?
Author: Raoul E. Heinrichs
Volume 4, Number 1 (Autumn 2008), pp. 55-67.
Abstract
Australian defence planners attach a great deal of importance to the concept of self-reliance in defence. But when it comes to the most destructive weapons of all—nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles—Australia is entirely dependent on extended deterrence provided by US nuclear forces. As the strategic balance of the region changes, and as nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threaten to proliferate within Australia’s strategic environment, new questions arise about the suitability of Australia’s strategic approach. This article explores the limitations of Australia’s current approach to nuclear deterrence, and some of the hard choices that Australian policy-makers face if they wish to preserve a credible nuclear strategy in the uncertain decades ahead.
About the Author
Raoul E. Heinrichs received his BA(Hons) in Politics from Monash University, and is currently a T.B Millar Scholar at the Graduate Studies in Strategy and Defence of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the ANU. He was recently awarded the Michael and Deborah Thawley Bursary in International Security at the Lowy Institute for International Policy. Throughout 2007, Raoul worked as an aide to the Foreign and National Security Policy Adviser in the office of then Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and should be attributed to him alone. u4420939@anu.edu.au.
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