{"id":9715,"date":"2013-10-01T06:00:45","date_gmt":"2013-09-30T20:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=9715"},"modified":"2013-10-16T13:34:48","modified_gmt":"2013-10-16T02:34:48","slug":"australia-canada-engagement-and-special-operations-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/australia-canada-engagement-and-special-operations-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia\u2013Canada engagement and special operations forces"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Preview.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9727\" title=\"The canvas \u2018Five Eyes\u2019, painted by Corporal S, a Special Operations Task Group soldier deployed to Afghanistan, in honour of the enduring friendship of Special Forces Coalition partners.\" alt=\"The canvas \u2018Five Eyes\u2019, painted by Corporal S, a Special Operations Task Group soldier deployed to Afghanistan, in honour of the enduring friendship of Special Forces Coalition partners.\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Preview.jpeg\" width=\"450\" height=\"370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Preview.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Preview-205x170.jpeg 205w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a>At first glance, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cigionline.org\/activity\/enhancing-security-cooperation-between-australia-and-canada-asia-pacific\" target=\"_blank\">the ASPI and CIGI push<\/a> for Australia to help Canada engage our region to advance its economic interests doesn\u2019t make much sense. Canada is doing nicely already\u2014like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdfai.org\/PDF\/Canada-China%20-%20Opportunities%20in%20Transition.pdf\">in China for example<\/a> (PDF)\u2014and maybe should be helping us. And, economically, what has Canada\u2014just like the Pythonesque Romans\u2014ever done for us? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/finance\/newsbysector\/industry\/mining\/8133214\/BHP-Billiton-blasts-Canadian-government-as-it-pulls-38bn-PotashCorp-bid.html\">Just ask<\/a> the Big Australian: <a href=\"http:\/\/online.wsj.com\/article\/SB10001424052748703506904575592870406638644.html\">BHP-Billiton<\/a>! Moreover, our new government seems keener on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.foreignminister.gov.au\/releases\/2013\/jb_mr_130918.html\">advancing our economic interests<\/a> than someone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/australia-and-canada-the-kangamoose-wakes\/\">Peter Jennings&#8217; argument<\/a> however, is compelling. It&#8217;d be helpful to have another middle power at regional meetings. That&#8217;s enough of a shared objective to form the basis of our developing engagement strategy\u2014although others suggest that stronger factors pulling Australia and Canada together are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cigionline.org\/publications\/2013\/9\/closer-australia-canada-defence-cooperation\">historical legacies and debts of gratitude<\/a>, or our being similar countries with assumed similar interests (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/publications\/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=373&amp;pubtype=10\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cigionline.org\/publications\/2013\/9\/transnational-challenges-and-future-security-cooperation-australia-canada-relati\">here<\/a>). A consensus <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cigionline.org\/sites\/default\/files\/CIGI-ASPI%20Shangri-La%20Workshop%20Report.pdf\">from recent events<\/a> (PDF) is that some practical measures within existing frameworks are needed to advance this common objective rather than creating some new meeting opportunity\u2014ASEAN already has plenty of those.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>What principles should guide this newfound enthusiasm for cross-Pacific engagement? I suggest that the agenda for practical activity needs to be:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>supportive of multiple objectives; for both parties ASEAN is great but the US alliance is the mother lode<\/li>\n<li>important in a strategic and military sense\u2014it has to be worth doing on its own terms<\/li>\n<li>something we can do together and not depend on others to make happen<\/li>\n<li>something that can leverage off, sustain and develop existing expertise<\/li>\n<li>non-threatening to those we&#8217;re trying to build relationships with\u2014think China;\u00a0 neither wish to unintentionally damage this key trading relationship<\/li>\n<li>economically efficient in terms of money and skilled people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While several activities could meet these principles, maybe a less-explored one might be particularly appropriate.<\/p>\n<p>The last decade has seen <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cfr.org\/special-operations\/future-us-special-operations-forces\/p30323\">a new importance<\/a> placed on special operations forces (SOF). The influential American think-tank CSBA lists them as one of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csbaonline.org\/publications\/2012\/11\/strategic-choices-navigating-austerity\/\">four \u2018crown jewels\u2019<\/a> in US military capabilities, and important in both counterterrorism and for training foreign military forces in counterinsurgency. Real value is now seen in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csbaonline.org\/publications\/2013\/05\/beyond-the-ramparts-the-future-of-u-s-special-operations-forces\/\">using SOF to engage globally<\/a> as part of building nationally useful connections and linkages amongst military forces. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.natowatch.org\/node\/834\">NATO SOF are part of<\/a> this building of a global SOF network.<\/p>\n<p>Western Europe has long had a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.istc-sof.org\/concept.html\">SOF training centre<\/a>, while in Jordan the new <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kasotc.com\/KASOTC_Site\/Home.html\">King Abbullah II Special Operations Training Center<\/a> aims to encourage international SOF cooperation, training and interoperability. Two evident gaps in building a global SOF network are Asia and Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Australia and Canada enter the post-Afghanistan era with highly experienced, well-regarded SOF. The two nations could collaborate in building a SOF training centre in Australia to provide regionally appropriate, high-quality SOF training in doctrine, tactics and procedures. If located in Darwin such a centre would be almost within ASEAN, although Perth is attractive in being home to Australia\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.army.gov.au\/Who-we-are\/Divisions-and-Brigades\/Special-Operations-Command\/Special-Air-Service-Regiment\">SASR<\/a>. Moreover Perth <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/theres-a-feeling-i-get-when-i-look-to-the-west\/\">looks west<\/a> (as well as north) and so such a centre could undertake training of both African and ASEAN SOF.<\/p>\n<p>For the two nations, providing training for ASEAN SOF would build useful linkages with and among regional militaries. These would deepen Australia\u2019s existing ties while providing Canada with durable new connections across the region. In 2014 Australia is co-chair with Singapore on the ADMM+ Experts\u2019 Working Group on Counter Terrorism. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.minister.defence.gov.au\/2013\/08\/29\/minister-for-defence-intervention-at-the-asean-plus-defence-ministers-meeting-admm-plus\/\">Australia hopes to use this appointment<\/a> to develop &#8216;regional capacity, foster interoperability, build links and relationships and enhance information sharing&#8217;. Such objectives suit Canada nicely as well.<\/p>\n<p>For Australia, proposing a SOF regional training centre would help work towards these objectives. For Canada, such a concept would show practical Canadian commitment to a key ADMM+ initiative. The centre could uniquely embed Canada in an area of particular importance to ASEAN in general and the ADMM+ in particular. Such a centre could also potentially offer to assist ADMM+ maritime security efforts. Advantageously, working group co-chair Singapore appears <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/news\/politics\/canada-seeks-asian-military-hub\/article4231097\/\">already receptive<\/a> (and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/commentary\/asean-is-an-open-door-for-canada\/article4401653\/\">here<\/a>) to more Canadian involvement in the ASEAN region.<\/p>\n<p>Such a centre meets the principles earlier outlined. A SOF training centre would support multiple objectives. As well as building ASEAN linkages, such a centre would assist both nations in keeping strong ties with the US. Canada could also offer such training to its NATO allies, while Australia could make use of Canadian ties into Africa as Australia starts to place <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/africa-and-the-defence-white-paper\/\">importance on African engagement<\/a>. This large geographic engagement span would be important in a strategic and military sense well into the future.<\/p>\n<p>A SOF centre would be worth doing on its own terms, be able to be developed on a bi-national basis, make good use of recently developed operational expertise and, in being small size and scalable, be affordable. Lastly, SOF has no China connotations. Such a centre might instead be a good venue for engaging China.<\/p>\n<p>A difficulty is that both nations have had problems (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/world\/news\/article.cfm?c_id=2&amp;objectid=10360725\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/news.nationalpost.com\/2013\/01\/27\/soldiers-trained-by-canadian-special-forces-hunted-tortured-in-mali-after-failed-counter-coup\/\">here<\/a>) with providing such training for other military forces. The training offered would need tailoring to each situation and fully address such concerns. However, given SOF\u2019s growing importance, other nations will seek such training from wherever they can. Undertaking it in an Australia\u2013Canadian SOF centre would ensure it was provided in a way that met high moral and ethical standards.<\/p>\n<p>The time seems right for such an initiative. A regional SOF training centre could be a most effective and efficient way for Australia and Canada to engage the region to advance both our national objectives and our shared one of having another middle power at ASEAN meetings.<\/p>\n<p><em>Peter Layton is undertaking a research PhD in grand strategy at UNSW, and has been an associate professor of national security strategy at the US National Defense University. Image courtesy of <a href=\"http:\/\/images.defence.gov.au\/20130620adf8439709_003.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Defence<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At first glance, the ASPI and CIGI push for Australia to help Canada engage our region to advance its economic interests doesn\u2019t make much sense. Canada is doing nicely already\u2014like in China for example (PDF)\u2014and &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":9727,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[143,17,272,263],"class_list":["post-9715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-asia-pacific","tag-australia","tag-canada","tag-special-forces"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Australia\u2013Canada engagement and special operations forces | The Strategist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/australia-canada-engagement-and-special-operations-forces\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Australia\u2013Canada engagement and special operations forces | The Strategist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At first glance, the ASPI and CIGI push for Australia to help Canada engage our region to advance its economic interests doesn\u2019t make much sense. 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