Although a country should develop an independant foreign policy, granted Peter. But for all intents and purposes Australia may have taken a wise path. Given Australia is also a continent - talk is cheap when defending a continent with little population. Like the pandemic - everybody has wise advice with 20/20 hindsight. Australia seems to have been well governed - of course there's a myriad of shortcomings - but in general it has been wisely governed. If the continent had been lost whether in the past, present or future - the consequences for the population - all - would have been, and be, catastrophic ! University lecturers should stick to doing just that - teaching school !