Australia has always been reliant on "great and powerful friends" for its sense of national security and for direction on its foreign policy-first on the British Empire and now on the United States. Australia has actively pursued a policy of strategic dependence, believing that making a grand bargain with a powerful ally was the best policy to ensure its security and prosperity.

Dangerous Allies examines Australia's history of strategic dependence and questions the continuation of this position. Malcolm Fraser argues that Australia should adopt a much greater degree of independence in foreign policy, and that they should no longer merely follow other nations into wars of no direct interest to Australia or Australia's security. He argues for an end to strategic dependence and for the timely establishment of a truly independent Australia.