A new book provides a sharp and unsettling examination of how Australias foreign policy is being shaped, steered and stretched by the strategic ambitions of a Trump-led United States.Bevan Ramsdenreviews Turbulence: Australian Foreign Policy in the Trump Era.

WE ARE INDEBTED toClinton Fernandesfor his insights into the worldwide economic turbulence and political uncertainties created by theTrumpAdministration.

InTurbulence, Fernandes shows that underneath this chaos lies a calculated agenda designed to achieve and maintain United States dominance economically and in the key areas of telecommunications, space, robotics, bioengineering, nanotechnologies and manufacturing, which means full-spectrum rivalry with China. If economic control is not possible, then plan B is global economic separation from China.

To achieve his goals, Trumps attention is being directed at three front lines Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Taiwan.

Fernandes demonstrates the true purpose of Australian foreign policy in this turbulent Trump era. Put quite bluntly, he sees the primary purpose of such policies being a continuing subservient commitment to keeping Australia relevant to the United States.

Trumps reckless nuclear testing threats risk reigniting an arms race and repeating the horrors witnessed by those scarred by past detonations.

Turbulence exposes the base objective of the Trump Administration: more money for the rich. All else is window dressing and feeding divisive prejudices to keep the necessary degree of public support.

Trumps key election backers were a coalition of elite investors. And they have been rewarded. Thirteen members of his cabinet are billionaires and they have a combined wealth of $460 billion. It's a case of rule by the rich for the rich.

Fernandes writes:

On the European Frontline of Trumps strategy, Fernades says that following the end of the Cold War:

On the subject of increased European military spending, Fernandes says:

Australia is paying for America's submarines, striking a deal with a President we still have to fact-check.

Moving to Trumps Middle East Frontline, Fernandes makes clear the key issue for the United States:

Fernandes quotes former National Security AdvisorZbigniew Brzezinski, who wrote:

Fernandes explains the importance of Israel in ensuring that the U.S. exercises control over Middle East oil. Apart from arming Israel, acknowledged byZohar Palti, a former intelligence director of IsraelsMossadintelligence agency, whosaidin October 2024: Without the U.S. weapons, Israel cannot fight. But it is Israel who takes the risks [and] knows how to do the job.

Fernandes continues:

In Frontline China, Fernandes quotes Trumps Defence Secretary,Pete Hegseth, as calling China his sole pacing threat:

Donald Trumps incendiary rhetoric is fuelling a volatile political divide, turning words into weapons on Americas streets.

In these final chapters of Turbulence, Clinton Fernandes draws attention toThe New York Times' description of Australia as the worlds most secretive democracy and then proceeds to strip away some of that veil of secrecy.

For example, he exposes the so-called freedom of Navigation patrols by Australian and U.S. naval vessels as military intelligence gathering exercises and preparing the battlespace to enable anti-submarine forces to attack enemy submarines at the start of hostilities, if ordered. He explains that Australia and the United States airdrop sonar buoys by the thousands. These sonobuoys collect the acoustic fingerprints of Chinese submarines to help identify them for hunt and destroy operations in a war scenario.

Fernandes says:

Fernandes exposes the role of AustraliasHarold Holt Naval Communications Stationat North West Cape near Exmouth in WA by explaining that Australia could play a vital role in the transmission of the U.S. President's orders to launch a nuclear missile from its nuclear submarines, as the VLF radio signal from the station is designed to penetrate seawater to facilitate such communication. Trump, like other U.S. presidents, has sole authority to make that decision. He does not have to consult with anyone.

AUKUSis not a nation-building exercise as promulgated by its proponents, says Fernandes. It is Australia, once again demonstrating relevance to the United States and at enormous expense to the public purse. Whilst supporting the need for submarines for Australias true defence, he argues that air-independent submarines are considerably cheaper than nuclear-powered submarines, meaning many more can be purchased with more local maintenance jobs throughout the life of the boats.

Fernandes says former SenatorRex Patrickhas argued Australia could have 20 modern off-the-shelf submarines built in Australia and enhanced by Australian industry for $30 billion, far less than nuclear-powered submarines. And AIP submarines are a proven technology, used by Japan, Sweden and other European countries.

Trump is an unpredictable force reshaping global politics and international behaviour, reframing diplomacy, institutions and public discourse in his wake..

The author also points to the dangers of the nuclear fuel used by the nuclear-powered submarines, to be obtained under AUKUS. The nuclear fuel is highly enriched weapons-grade uranium. Further, the design of the nuclear reactors is directly transferable to build nuclear weapons.

Fernandes writes:

This has been determined by SenatorDavid Shoebridgein intensivequestioningof Australias Vice AdmiralJonathan Meadand is now recorded in Hansard.

Summing up, Clinton Fernandes says:

For anyone concerned about where Australias foreign policy, including AUKUS, is taking us in this Trump-dominated era, Clinton Fernandes' book, Turbulence, is an essential read.

Turbulence: Australian Foreign Policy in the Trump Era is available fromMelbourne University Publishingfor $17.99 (RRP).

Bevan Ramsdenis a long-time peace activist going back to his full-time voluntary organising work in the Vietnam Moratorium Campaign, for which he was, with Jim Cairns, the Victorian representative on the National Vietnam Moratorium Campaign committee. He has continued since in peace activities and more recently as a member of the national coordinating committee for the Independence and Peaceful Australia network and editor of its monthly publication, Voice.

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