The ALP’s unwavering support for the US alliance is increasingly at odds with Australia’s economic, security, and political interests under President Donald Trump.
It’s only a month since the government announced a “bilateral security agreement” with Ukraine that “affirms Australia’s enduring commitment to Ukraine”.
In that time, the Trump administration has demanded the removal of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president, negotiated a deal to buy Russian diesel fuel, blocked legislated sanctions against Russia, cut intelligence sharing that led to Ukrainians being killed by Russian missile strikes, and praised Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian”.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk also curtailed Ukraine’s access to Starshield on the administration’s orders, removing a key element of the Ukrainian military’s defensive capabilities.