‘They’re not as committed’: Damning warning over Australia’s US alliance

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer warns the current Australian Government is not as committed to the American alliance as previous governments, arguing Australia needs the US to counter China, Iran and Russia. “It’s such a hypothetical question, it’s so difficult to answer,” Mr Downer told News24 host Caleb Bond. “They’re not as committed to the American alliance as we were. “We need the Americans to help balance Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific, we need the Americans to deal with the ambitions of Iran, and we need the Americans to help us deal with the ambitions of Vladimir Putin and the Russians. “Without the Americans, who is going to fill that gap? Who is going to fill these adversaries if it’s not the Americans? “The present Australian government doesn’t think in those terms; it just thinks politically.”