After 75 years of our alliance with the US, most Australians still can’t see a better option

In 1951, Australia and the United States signed the ANZUS Treaty, declaring “publicly and formally their sense of unity, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that any of them stand alone”.

Seventy-five years later, polling suggests Australians are no longer so confident in their sense of unity — but they still aren’t willing to stand alone.

The past 18 months have seen a new US administration castigate American allies for “ freeloading ” on US security guarantees, and being “ very unhelpful ” in the Iran war.

Australia has faced US criticism over issues ranging from Iran to beef imports .

It was hit with an increased 12.5% tariff rate in July.

Yet our polling at the United States Studies Centre shows just 15% of Australians now believe Australia should withdraw from its alliance with the US.

Compare that to three years ago: in 2023, 37% of Australians said they would agree with ending the alliance if Donald Trump were re-elected for a second term as US president.

Our findings show Australians are increasingly willing to hold onto their US alliance as it marks its 75th anniversary, even after another year of uncertainty and discord.

This suggests they feel practical alternatives to such an embedded security relationship remain elusive.

An unhappy marriage Public opinion has seen huge shifts in confidence in the United States and trust in the security of the alliance since the start of Trump’s second presidential term.

Every year, the United States Studies Centre polls more than 1,000 people in each of the four countries making up the Quad partnership — Australia, the United States, Japan and India — on their views of the United States, alliances, and foreign policy.

This year, only 16% of Australians said Trump’s second term as US president has been good for Australia.

Less than a third of Australians think the Australian government has properly explained why Australia even needs its alliance with the US.

Concern in all four countries about US domestic politics runs deep.