Australian, New Zealand, and United States Security Relations: 1951-1986

The post-war tripartite defence relationship that evolved between Australia, New Zealand and the United States is rarely recognized as having three distinct, although closely related parts: legal basis (the ANZUS treaty); the diplomatic alliance, which is most commonly studied; and the defence relationship. This study provides a description and functional analysis of the long-ignored, but important security relationship that has developed between the three countries over the past 35 years, and it assesses the political and security implications of allied security co-operation for each of the three members of the alliance.