‘Not woke stuff': Trump administration bars US officials from Australia defence talks
National security experts fear an array of exchanges between US and Australian counterparts will dry up following a sweeping Pentagon edict, announced this week, suspending all participation in think tank and research events because it suspects they do not align with Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda.
The edict comes as the US reviews the future of the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares for a potential first meeting with Trump in September after months of no discussions between the pair.
US and Australian officials were planning to meet some of the nations' top defence experts in Canberra on Monday and Tuesday next week for the fifth round of the US-Australia Indo-Pacific Deterrence Dialogue, but the event was suddenly called off on Wednesday when the American officials were told they were no longer allowed to travel to the event.
Around 40 American and Australian national security figures would have gathered to discuss issues such as military integration, nuclear deterrence and strategic interaction with China at the closed-door dialogue, which involved months of planning.
The so-called '1.5 track' event brings together current military leaders, government officials and diplomats with non-government researchers. Discussions are held under the Chatham House rule to foster frank discussions on sensitive and complex topics, with the participants' identities kept secret.
This would have been the first time the dialogue has been held since Trump's re-election.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement: 'In order to ensure the Department of Defence is not lending its name and credibility to organisations, forums, and events that run counter to the values of this administration, the Department's Office of Public Affairs will be conducting a thorough vetting of every event where Defence officials are invited to participate.'
Rory Medcalf, head of the Australian National University's National Security College, said the 'cancellation of this dialogue is disappointing and counterproductive for alliance interests'.
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