Australia, Britain, Canada, the US and the ABCA Relationship

Unlike the other chapters of this section of the volume, this discussion explores the relationship between and among four countries rather than focusing on a particular country, region or issue. These relationships date back to the late 1940s and were designed to capitalize on the close co-operation that existed during World War II. A plan to effect standardization was initiated in 1947 between America, Britain and Canada, known as the ABC Armies. Initially, the ABC programme was designed to foster collaboration and co-operation among the militaries of the member countries, to ensure economy through the use of combined resources as much as possible, and to achieve interoperability and standardization of equipment and materiel. ¹ Such co-operation reflected the ‘shared national values and defense goals of its member countries’. ² Australia joined this group in 1963, and the current America, Britain, Canada and Australia (ABCA) programme was established on 10 October 1964. Since that initial agreement, New Zealand was granted observer status in 1965 and full membership in March 2006. By 2007 the programme included all land forces of the member nations, although it retains the ABCA name. ³