In many ways, the Albanese government’s Defence Strategic Review has broken the mold of Australian defence and strategic planning, a marked departure from the Defence of Australia-era which championed continental-focused defence posture and ensuing force structure, while not quite being a return to the Cold War-era policy of Forward Defence marked by power projection-focused capabilities and an active presence throughout the region. Bringing us to the second statement, this time from the Defence Strategic Review, shattering the nation’s long-held belief in unassailable American primacy as Australia’s primary strategic benefactor and security guarantor: “Australia does not have effective defence capabilities relative to higher threat levels.