The world is no longer standing in America’s shadow. It is learning,quickly and with no small amount of fear,how to stand on its own.
US President Donald Trump is aware the Australian government has been trying to contact him to discuss tariffs,hinting that he will talk to the prime minister.
The government insists it has no obligation to provide special briefings during the election period despite demands from the opposition.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry has left open the prospect of regular Russian military visits to the nation,saying it welcomed co-operation with friendly nations.
After the Coalition called on Jakarta to curtail its defence ties with Moscow,one frontbencher claimed Russia and China didn’t want Peter Dutton as PM.
An Australian-Canadian cafe owner has been ordered by the Canadian food regulator to scrape Vegemite off his menu. The prime minister skated in with elbows up.
Australia’s northern neighbour has reassured the federal government that Russia will not be allowed to base long-range aircraft 1400 kilometres from Darwin.
Since World War II,there has been a high degree of alignment between Australia’s national interests and American global leadership. Not any more.
Trump was speaking at a Republican Party black tie dinner after his own trade representative was grilled at a Senate hearing about why the US whacked tariffs on Australian goods.
The Australian government was confident about an exemption from Trump’s trade imposts but as it turned out,that privilege was reserved only for enemies.