Long a cornerstone of Australia’s military strategy, the alliance has allowed a nation of 27 million to wield disproportionate influence in an era of great-power competition. Australia’s 2024 National Defence Strategy notes that ‘Australia’s alliance with the US is fundamental to our national security and the ADF’s capacity to generate, sustain and project credible military capability’. This is more than semantics; it goes to the heart of who controls the employment of Australian ships, aircraft and other capabilities, and how we design and operate the Australian Defence Force. The Australia-US alliance is, rightly, a cornerstone of Australia’s defence strategy and efforts to deepen cooperation with Washington have been vital. But as states increasingly turn to force to settle disputes, a stronger alliance depends on both partners having a clear understanding of each other’s expectations.