Follow the day’s news live
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Hastie says he would be reluctant to commit Australian troops to any conflict with Iran that the US elects to join, but said any decision about logistical support would be “a decision for the government.”
Asked about Australia’s relationship to the US, Hastie said “we have to have a more discussion about our relationship with the US.”
We need greater transparency. Secretary Hegseth appeared before the arms committee this week, last week, he talked about the Indo-Pacific and named Communist China as the Pacific threat – his words and he talked about the US building up its forward posture in the Indo-Pacific.He spoke specifically of Australia, Japan and The Philippines. We’re very much part of the integrated deterrence that the US is building in the region.
We need greater transparency, to talk about operationalising the alliance, building guardrails for combat operations and defining our sovereignty. This will make things clearer for us, so we can better preserve our national interests. We’re not just a vassal state, we’re an ally, partner and it’s time we had a discussion about what that looks like.
One thing is clear. If you are Iran and you survive this conflict with your regime intact and a nuclear program intact, I think you will move at best speed to build a bomb, to put yourself in the strongest position the, in time this happens.
They will use it.
Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jun/22/australia-news-live-richard-marles-andrew-hastie-iran-israel-anthony-albanese-penny-wong-coalition-labor-nsw-vic-qld-ntwnfb
Author : Royce Kurmelovs
Publish date : 2025-06-21 23:45:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
