The Vietnam War which went from 1965 to 1975 involved America and its allies,
including Australia, aiming to prevent South Vietnam from an invasion by the communist
North Vietnaese. There were many key reasons for Australias involvement in the Vietnam
War. The Americans provided valuable support when they arrived at our aid during the
WWII so Australia felt a responsibility to return a favour to the US to maintain healthy
foreign relations. Australia also became implicated in the war due to the threat posed by
the expansion of communism, known as the Domino Effect. On the political front
Australia was also very anticommunist and believed to stop the war arriving at our front
step we should use the forward defence approach. For these reasons Australia found itself
entrenched in an exhausting war.
Australia was in a position where it needed to think about its countries welfare, and its
responsibility to America. After World War I Australia knew it could not defend itself
against any enemy on its home ground, so Menzies sought to strengthen Australias
relationships with United States and Britain relying on great and powerful friends. The
ANZUS treaty (1951) and the SEATO treaty (1954) were a way to create a closer link to
America, although it does not say that US must help Australias it gives them a closer
relationship. The SEATO treaty linked the United states, Britain, France, Australia, New
Zealand, Thailand, Pakistan and the Philippines this gave Australia strong alliances with
nations equally apposed to the communist disease in South East Asia.
