ANZUS Military Treaty Signed By Australia, New Zealand, and U.S. (1951)
On September 1, 1951, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States signed the ANZUS treaty to forge a military alliance in the Pacific region.
After World War II, Australia quickly realized that it needed military support after attacks from Japan. For the first time in Australia’s history Britain could not come to the rescue for its former colony. As such, Australia naturally forged a military relationship with its neighboring country New Zealand. Together, Australia and New Zealand worked in cooperation with the United States to create a three-way military alliance where the U.S. wanted to contain Japan.
On this day, September 1, 1951, Australia, New Zealand, and United States signed the ANZUS military treaty – an acronym for the three countries (i.e. “A” for Australia, “NZ” for New Zealand, and “US” for United States) – and the measures of the treaty went into effect in April 1952. The main portion of the treaty states as follows: The parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any one of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific.
In 1984, New Zealand and the United States got into a disagreement over the transportation of nuclear powered ships into New Zealand waters. Negotiations between New Zealand and the U.S. broke down and the ANZUS treaty lapsed between the two countries. However, the ANZUS treaty remains in effect between Australia and New Zealand and between Australia and the U.S. As such, Australia acts as the country that essentially holds the alliance together among the three nations.
The ANZUS treaty provides for no integrated forces or defense structures like NATO. However, Australia and the U.S. have conducted a number of joint activities and remain strong military allies. For example, the two countries train together, exchange intelligence, technology, and other military systems and information.
Today, the Australian–US military alliance remains in full force under the ANZUS treaty. In fact, Australia has acted as an enduring ally with the U.S. through many wars including the Vietnam War, Korean War, Persian Gulf War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.