Do you think Australia is a "superpower"?

Question

I have heard that Asutralia is like the 4th or 5th most powerful country on earth.

REASONS: Asutralia has 40% of the worlds uranium supplies.
They have like the 4th best special forced only 4th to SEALS British SAS and israeli special forces.
They have a large Navy with like 65 submarines.
Small but Highly trained army and airforce.

And most importintly they have treaties with U.K and U.S.A superpowers themselfs.

What do you think?

Okay gunner rosco..

I got the top 5 Special forces off multiple military Websites Australian and American.

5th being the French special forces

I do know the names but cant be bothered typing them.

If they wanted Australia could start making nuclear weapons when ever they wanted. they have The uranium the materials the money and the expertise.

Answer 1

I guess they are, then. A superpower with no huge world agenda? Or just refusing to take the lead? Or am I just uninformed? I'd not thought about it before.

Interesting question.

Answer 2

no

Reasons:
uranium mines does not equate to nuclear weapons. Just because you have a lot of paint does not make you a Picasso.

the SAS and Israeli SF guard countries that are way, way smaller than the Australian continent.

Large navy, yes, large continent to defend also yes.

Again, keyword is small. Highly trained, sure. but given the size of the country to defend and the population.

Plus, Great Britain cease to be a superpower when its territories (ironically enough, includes Australia) became independent. So if the head stopped calling itself a superpower, why would the foot even be considered one?
Plus the US has treaties with everyone. Why? because its a superpower. :)

The definition of a superpower is a state that can influence other countries and project power on a worldwide scale. So if Australia can declare war and invade a country halfway around the world for whatever reason, then its a superpower.

Answer 3

*uncontrollable sniggering*

Oh no, Australia's actually a hyperpower. Yep, most dominant nation in the world.

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1 - Uranium is a metal we mostly make use of by selling. It's not making us ridiculously rich, so it's hardly an indicator of power.

2 - How did you go about deciding the top four special forces in the world? Is there some way of measuring their goodness on a scale, despite the fact they're all radically different? You don't even know what the Israeli special forces is called - it looks like you're making assumptions and guesses.

3 - The Royal Australian Navy has quite a formidable and famed submarine force, but surprisingly no air defence capability whatsoever. They literally have to depend on the Royal Australian Artillery for that. Go figure.

4 - An alliance with a superpower doesn't mean anything, only that someone's got your back in case you get attacked. It's safe to say an alliance with China didn't get little Albania anywhere.

5 - The only arguable super power left is the United States. Besides, the UK is more of a 'great power' and doesn't have nearly as much ability to exert influence or project power as it used to.

Answer 4

Having a well trained military does not qualify a country as a superpower. Being a superpower invloves a number of qualities including economic and political clout, media influence, military power and size of the economy. Even Turkey and Jordan have one of the best trained special forces in the world and they have treaties with the US too, that does not make them superpowers.

As far as the economy is concerned, Australia has a very small economy, not really of superpower size. Rupert Murdoch is probably is the only "power" element to have originated from Australia. He rules the media.

Answer 5

No offense, but I don't think so. U.S period. MAYBE China, especially in a few years. But they have so many internal problems. UK and Australia just don't have the total population to raise enough troops for major ground offensives, in addition to nuclear power they already have.

Australia:

Powerful? - yes. Nuclear Power? - yes. Super Power? - no.

But, I've heard from multiple sources that Australian Special Forces are actually better than U.S. Navy SEALs.

Answer 6

Not quite sure what to say on that one...

"A superpower is a state with a leading position in the international system and the ability to influence events and project power on a worldwide scale; it is considered a higher level of power than a great power."

Answer 7

Australia is not a superpower as compared to the United States.

Answer 8

Thats a good argument. But I don't think they qualify as a superpower. They would still need a large force and massive arsenal to qualify, as well as world influence

Answer 9

australia a super power are you joking

the so called super power was booted out of papua new gunea in 1979 couldnt stop the indonesians running amok in east timor and has a very minimal naval warfare capacity by this i mean australia has no ampibious warfare capability. its nvy maybe relatively large but look at the amount of coastline it has to control -twice that of the usa.

its troops are well drilled because they see little combat

to be a superpower it is essential to be able to conduct naval ampibious operations where you can send your power over seas

Answer 10

Why would they want to be a superpower? They have a really cool accent. That's all you need. Military power is highly overrated especially since there doesn't see to be a threat to them that needs to be countered.