Would Australia's relations with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Britain suffer if we focussed on Vietnam from 1966? By focused I mean 79sqn Sabre being moved to Vietnam as their role in Thailand became marginalised, and perhaps being reinforced at the expanse of Malaysian based Sabre units. Further the HMAS Melboure could play an active part in the war, either with dedicated war cruises or conducting airstrikes with its CAG during it's escorting runs, rather than focusing on exercises. Other RAN ships stationed in Singapore during the period could be deployed to Vietnam instead, maybe in the south if the war in the north is too hot.
These sorts of deployments would directly reduce the forces available to defend our S.E.A. allies, but would our willingness to undertake operations against the Communist threat (the reason behind the alliances) offset this and be acceptable? Or would be be seen as belligerent and therefore an object of suspiscion among our allies in S.E.A.?
These sorts of deployments would directly reduce the forces available to defend our S.E.A. allies, but would our willingness to undertake operations against the Communist threat (the reason behind the alliances) offset this and be acceptable? Or would be be seen as belligerent and therefore an object of suspiscion among our allies in S.E.A.?