A recent analysis by the Nautilus Institute, reported by The Guardian, reveals that the United States military has established a presence or access rights at over 50% of Australia's military bases. This level of integration has sparked concern among some analysts, who characterize the arrangement as a form of “saturation” or “colonisation” of Australia’s defense infrastructure. Critics of this trend argue that such deep military ties could effectively trap Australia into participating in a potential conflict between the United States and China, regardless of the Australian government's specific policy preferences.

While the report highlights the strategic depth of the AUKUS-era alliance, it also underscores the growing tension between maintaining close security ties with Washington and preserving Australian strategic autonomy. The data suggests that the physical footprint of the US military in Australia is significantly larger than previously emphasized in mainstream political discourse. The report serves as a focal point for broader questions about whether Australia’s defense policy is becoming overly reliant on US objectives, potentially at the expense of its own regional diplomatic interests. As of now, the Australian government has not provided a detailed rebuttal to the specific data points regarding the percentage of bases accessible to US forces, though the findings have been cited by political figures to argue for a more independent national security strategy.