The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Dumb deal’ drags Us-australia ties to new low
Trump hangs up on Australian Prime Minister Turnbull, calls phone conversation ‘the worst by far’
US TIES with ally Australia were strained on Thursday over a reported acrimonious phone call between their two leaders and US President Donald Trump’s assertion that an existing refugee swap deal was “dumb.”
Trump described the plan as “the worst deal ever,” the Washington Post reported, and accused Australia of trying to export the “next Boston bombers.”
The call had been scheduled to last an hour but Trump cut it short after 25 minutes when Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull tried to turn to subjects such as Syria, according to the Post.
The apparent breakdown between Washington and Canberra that has developed over the resettlement deal could have serious repercussions. Australia and the United States are among the five nations that make up the Five Eyes group, the world’s leading intelligencesharing network.
Turnbull told reporters that he had been surprised and disappointed that details of the call with Trump had been leaked but gave few particulars other than to deny reports that Trump had hung up on him.
“As far as the call is concerned, the report that the President hung up is not correct. The call ended courteously. And as far as the nature of the discussion, it was very frank and forthright,” he told a Sydney radio station on Thursday. “I make Australia’s case as powerfully and persuasively as I can wherever I am,” he said.
Turnbull declined to confirm the Post report that Trump, who has spoken to world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, had angrily told him that the call was “the worst so far.”
Later, Trump tweeted, “Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!”
Trump, on Thursday, said the US is being taken advantage of and that he was having “tough phone calls” as he addressed issues. He did not name Australia or its leader by name. REUTERS