ABC News Online: Ambassador intervenes after Mike Pompeo warns US could 'disconnect' from Australia over Victoria's Belt and Road deal
The US ambassador to Australia has played down a suggestion from his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that his nation could "simply disconnect" from Australia if Victoria's trade deal with Beijing threatened its telecommunication security.
On Sunday morning, Mr Pompeo said while he was not aware of the detail of Victoria's agreement, it could impact his nation's Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership with Australia.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Pompeo warned the Belt and Road agreement with the Andrews Government increased the Chinese communist regime's ability to do "harm".
China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure push aiming to recreate the glory days of China's ancient Silk Road trade routes.
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Update: Warning US could ‘disconnect’ from Australia over Belt and Road deal with China hosed down (News.com.au)
WNU Editor: The US ambassador to Australia is playing down a suggestion from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the U.S. could "simply disconnect" from Australia if Victoria's trade deal with Beijing will impact telecommunication security. The problem with the US ambassador's remarks is that he is not the boss. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is. My prediction. Details on Victoria's trade deal with Beijing have not been released. But if it does threaten Australia's telecommunications agreement with the U.S., I am sure it is going to be blocked.
