This is simply material reality. I hate the US government but part of why I hate it is because it has its fucking tendrils all over the globe, because it throws its weight around and doesn't hesitate to use force against anyone who stands in its way. We spend more on the military than the next 9 countries combined. Countless free and democratic governments have made the mistake of underestimating the ruthlessness, militarism, and subversive capabilities of the empire. You can throw a dart at a map and chances are the US has engaged in fuckery there.

For example, in 1975, Australian PM Gough Whitlam uncovered secret CIA plots being carried out in Australia, and threatened to close the installation at Pine Gap. This led to a constitutional crisis as, wouldn't you know it, an old, outdated law happened to give an unlected official the power to dismiss the PM. An unelected official who happened to have ties to the CIA.

Does the Australian government even have the capacity to close Pine Gap? It's kind of an open question. There's no telling what kinds of tricks and contingencies American spies might have in place, should Australia step out of line.

Frankly, I see any country with a US military base as a de facto vassal state until proven otherwise. By all means, prove otherwise.