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1 1 (July 29, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveqdj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Australia: Background and U.S. Relations Overy ew Australia's relationship with the United States, forged as allies in all major U.S. wars, remains close. The two countries enjoy close trade, political, cultural, intelligence, and defense relations, and maintain close people-to-people ties. As geopolitical uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific has increased, the alliance has deepened. Driven by concerns about the People's Republic of China's (PRC's or China's) military and economic rise, the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States launched the AUKUS partnership in September 2021. AUKUS is intended to provide Australia with nuclear propulsion technology for its next generation submarines and to jointly develop advanced military capabilities. Congressional approval and involvement is required throughout AUKUS implementation. Australia and the United States have embraced the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or Quad, with Japan and India), further aligning regional strategies. History, Po t cs, and Governance Australia was first inhabited between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago. The Aboriginal population were hunter- gatherers; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now make up 3.8% of Australia's population. Britain colonized Australia from 1788-when Britain established a penal colony there-to 1901. That year, Australia became the Commonwealth of Australia, a dominion of the British empire that was sovereign in its domestic affairs; Australia established control over its external affairs over the course of the next four decades. The United States recognized Australia's independence and established bilateral relations in 1940. The country's parliament is bicameral, with a House of Representatives and a Senate. Elections occur at least once every three years, but the government can call early elections. The Labor Party and the Liberal-National Party Coalition are the country's two main political forces. Prime Minister Albanese of the Labor Party has stated his intention to hold a referendum on Australia becoming an independent republic and removing the British King as Head of State, but has not committed to a timeframe. In October 2023, a referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment that would have created an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body to advise parliament failed with a vote of 60% to 40%. Supporters saw the amendment as a way to increase Indigenous representation in policymaking, while opponents claimed the legislation would divide the population and hinder decisionmaking. Econom cs and Trade The Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) came into force in 2005. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Australia was $17.7 billion in 2023, a 23.2% increase from 2022. The United States is Australia's largest foreign investment destination. Top Australian exports and Updated July 29, 2024 services include raw materials, energy, agriculture, and tourism. Australia is among the world's top exporters of energy and resources, including lithium, cobalt, and other critical minerals. China is Australia's largest two-way trade partner and accounted for 26.8% of Australia's global trade in 2023. Although the two countries signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2015, China restricted some imports from Australia in 2020 following Canberra's endorsement of an inquiry into the origins of the COVID- 19 disease. China began lifting those trade restrictions in 2023 and Australian goods and services exports to China in 2023 increased by more than 18% compared to 2022. Government: Federal parliamentary democracy Headof State: King Charles Ill is represented by Australian Governor General Samantha Joy Mostyn HeadofGovernment: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Population: 26 million; 2.4% growth; 86% urban (2023 est.) Life expectancy: 83 years (2022 est.) Area: Slightly smaller than the contiguous 48 U.S. States GDP: Per capita $65,370 with 1.6% growth (2023 est.) Natural Resources: Alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, rare earth elements Exports / Destinations: Iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, aluminum oxide, meat, wool, wheat ! China 40.84%, Japan 12.38%, South Korea 6.5%, United States 5.3% Exchange Rate: A$1.47 US$1 (7/12/2024) Source: The World Bank Strategc Outlook The Australian government's assessment of its security environment has shifted considerably in the past decade, from a relatively more benign one in the mid-2010s to a markedly deteriorated one in 2023. The primary driver of this shift was the emergence of great-power competition between the United States and China, as well as multiple instances of alleged PRC interference in Australian politics since 2017. A 2024 Lowy Institute poll found that more than 70% of Australians think China is somewhat or very likely to become a major military threat in the next 20 years, up from 45% of Australians in 2018. The Australian government is reorienting elements of its military strategy, force structure, and procurement practices. It has laid out plans to increase defense spending and grow its military capabilities, and allocated $US37.5 billion for FY2025, 2.02% of its GDP. Australia plans an additional $33.8 billion in defense spending over the decade until 2033-2034. Australian governments also have responded to China's outreach to the Pacific with renewed diplomatic engagement in the region.

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