Australia should prepare for a second Donald Trump administration as it will put the nation in good stead regardless of who wins the US election, an expert says.
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Donald Trump on Friday accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination for the third time, while senior Democrats urge Joe Biden to step down from his re-election bid for the presidential race in November.
The best thing Australia could do in anticipation of the election result is to prepare for a Trump administration, the United States Studies Centre's research director Jared Mondschein said.
"I don't say that because I think Trump is a sure-fire win," he told AAP.
"The very steps you would take to address an incoming Trump administration would put you in a great position with a Democratic administration as well."
The Republicans enter the latter part of the election campaign full of confidence, with Mr Trump's speech taking on familiar themes around domestic and foreign policies, Australia's former ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said.
"What we can take from this week is that he's going to be very much America-first, which means he will want to avoid foreign entanglements," he told AAP.
A shift in foreign policy priorities could be on the cards for a Trump administration, with Mr Mondschein pointing to a sharper focus in Asia at the expense of Europe.
"There's been no indication whatsoever that Trump or JD Vance are interested in isolating themselves from the challenge that China proposes," he said.
Both sides of politics in the US have been frustrated by the Europeans not sharing the burden when it comes to defence spending in NATO amid Russia invading Ukraine.
"If you look at Japan and Australia, those two US allies are doing the lion's share of burden-sharing," Mr Mondschein said.
"I see the US really not wanting to spend more resources on Ukraine in a Trump-Vance administration."
Mr Trump's vice presidential pick JD Vance has signalled his opposition to providing sustained support for Ukraine, amid fears the deputy could influence the presidential candidate's views.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said it's in America's interests to ensure Ukraine is not defeated by Russia.
"We can get back to normal rather than opening a Pandora's box and emboldening other authoritarian leaders to use their might to change borders," he told AAP.
The vice-president's role is limited when it comes to foreign policy and views could change once the full scope of the challenge is explained, the ambassador said.
If the US does withdraw from its international position, Mr Myroshnychenko said the impact will spread to other parts of the world including the Pacific.
Australia, under the first Trump presidency, fared better compared to other countries, which Mr Mondschein attributed to the nation stepping up in the region.
"If you're talking about AUKUS and the military and security dynamics of engaging with Asia, we can expect to see similar if not greater engagement," he said.
"AUKUS will be safe regardless of who is elected in November because it is Australia spending more money to do more of the burden-sharing in Asia, standing up to regional powers like China, and giving the US billions of dollars to expand the US defence industrial capacity."
But Mr Sinodinos said Australia must reinforce the common interest in the Pacific between both nations in terms of defence, security and trade.
Australia would work closely alongside the US, regardless of who won the presidential race, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said.
"The relationship between our two great nations is a relationship based upon our common values, our support for democratic values and human rights, our support for our relationship through our alliance as well," he said.
Australian Associated Press
