[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

it's nearly impossible for western countries to go it alone these days and the USA need partners so that they are not considered a bully.

France is/will be part of the euro zone defence so isn't much interested in the waters around Australia. The only reason they are angry is that Australia were buying a wad of subs from france and that contract has now been scrapped

I think something has to be done to keep China in line. We have NATO covering any immediate threat from russia, we need similar for China

I've heard rumblings that the US (possibly also the UK) are slowly shuffling resources away from NATO though, into things like this. There's been talk that European countries will need to put more of their own resources into NATO. Honestly I can see individual nations militaries starting to be phased out as more and more resources and manpower are channelled into things like NATO and various other military pacts. The "Endgame" is likely 4-or-so groups of nations acting as the new superpowers. Whispers of Japan having a more active non-defensive military again, having had none since WW2, and they would most likely (along with SK) end up closely aligned with something like AUKUS.