Korea and the Evolution of the American-Australian Relationship, 1947-53: Aligning Interests

During the Cold War, the US-Australian Korean engagement, 1947-53, was crucial in shaping the relationship between the two nations. Key officials such as Percy Spender, John Foster Dulles, and James Plimsoll played a significant role in the alliance, and the American evaluation of the geo-strategic significance of Korea was a major factor in the formation of ANZUS. Fazio challenges the Australian mythology on the origins of the ANZUS Treaty and highlights the limits of Australia's capacity to influence US policy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the aftermath of World War Two, the United States and Australia found themselves with divergent strategic and security interests on the Korean peninsula. However, these interests converged and then aligned, leading to a significant engagement between the two nations from 1947 to 1953. This period was crucial in shaping the evolving relationship between the two countries and the formation of the ANZUS alliance.

The diplomacy played by key US and Australian officials, such as Percy Spender, John Foster Dulles, and James Plimsoll, was particularly significant in this regard. The American evaluation of the geo-strategic significance of Korea was a major factor in the formation of the ANZUS alliance, and events in Korea continued to play a central role in the evolving US-Australian relationship.

Fazio challenges the Australian mythology on the origins of the ANZUS Treaty and provides a cautionary insight into the limits of Australia's capacity to influence US policy to benefit its interests. This book is an insightful read for diplomatic historians, offering greater depth to understanding the broader historical context of the trajectory of the US-Australian relationship and alliance since the beginning of the Cold War.

Weight: 720g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032443201