In 1971, the Australian government, led by Prime Minister John Gorton, and the New Zealand government, under Prime Minister Jack Marshall, reached a pivotal decision to withdraw their military troops from Vietnam. Both nations had committed forces to assist the United States in the Vietnam War, driven by their alliance obligations and the desire to combat the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. As the war dragged on, public sentiment in both countries shifted dramatically, leading to widespread protests and a reevaluation of the military commitment. The decision to withdraw was influenced by various factors, including increasing casualties, a lack of clear objectives, and the realization that the war was not winnable.The withdrawal process began in late 1971 with both countries signaling that their military presence was no longer sustainable. For Australia, approximately 8,000 troops were deployed at the peak of their involvement, and the withdrawal was seen as a move towards a more independent foreign policy, distancing itself from the United States' military strategies. New Zealand's involvement was smaller in scale but symbolically significant. The withdrawal was celebrated by anti-war activists but marked a challenging transition for both nations as they adapted to a post-war environment. This was a turning point in the overall Vietnam conflict and represented a broader trend of diminishing military engagement by Western allies in Southeast Asia as opposition to the war surged back home.The decision to withdraw also had long-term implications for Australian and New Zealand foreign policy. It signaled a movement towards regional diplomacy and development rather than military intervention, fostering a new era of international relations in the Asia-Pacific region. Ultimately, this decision set the stage for the extensive debates on defense policy and military involvement that would shape both nations throughout the subsequent decades.