What happens in the United States matters a great deal to Australia.

From our environment, to our economy, to the shape of our democracy – the outcome of the most important American elections in generations has big implications for us and the region we live in.

This is about so much more than some submarines. What happens in America this week goes to the core of our national interests, and our values.

It matters to us that American democracy is teetering on the edge.

Have we really thought through what a second Donald Trump presidency might mean for us?

Viewed from outside, the Australian government doesn’t appear to have really grappled with Australia’s closeness to the first Trump administration. That closeness wasn’t merely a matter of convenience or security. The Australian government seemed hesitant to express explicit concerns about the insurrection of 6 January 2021. It’s worth asking: what would have been the implications for Australia if the insurrection had been successful, as it might have........

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