Latest news with #AlexanderDowner
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Albanese's ‘private conversations' with Xi Jinping would have been ‘important'
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer discusses Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's private conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials. 'We don't know the details of the private conversations that he had with Xi Jinping and the Chinese Premier, and other officials, but it will have been important,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'It's one thing to talk about trade issues and restrictions on trade. 'The really important issue with China is geopolitics, and the need for China to play a much more responsible rules-based role in the world.'
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Strikes on Damascus aimed at deterring Syrian military from ‘massacring Druze population'
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says Israeli strikes on Damascus were aimed at stopping the Syrian military from massacring the Druze population, while further adding that any critique of Israel's strikes would 'boil down to antisemitism'. 'Why don't people criticise the Syrian military and the Syrian President for killing Druze?' Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'There are a lot of Druze in Israel, about 150,000 Israeli Druze, and many of them are in the Israeli defence force … they're completely integrated … into Israeli society. 'The Israelis are stopping the Syrian military from massacring the Druze in Syria, and to criticise the Israelis for doing that, that pretty much boils down to antisemitism.'
Sky News AU
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Anthony Albanese beginning to ‘downplay' US-Australia alliance
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is beginning to 'downplay' the US-Australia alliance. Mr Downer told Sky News host Caroline Marcus that Anthony Albanese believes the US is there to 'support' Australia if someone decides to invade. 'But it's much more than that.'
Sky News AU
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Hugely successful': Donald Trump praised for ‘dealing with' Iran
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says US President Donald Trump has proved 'hugely successful' in dealing with the Iranians. This comes amid Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong's trip to the United States. 'I don't think she is right; I don't think President Trump envisages a different role for the US,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'He's dealing with a coalition of countries … Russia, China, Iran, and also, one should include North Korea. 'He's proved hugely successful in dealing with Iran.'
Sky News AU
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘She should be more creative': Penny Wong slammed by former foreign minister
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong should be 'more creative' in building a more successful Quad to deter Chinese aggression. 'She could have done two things, one is to improve the operation of the Quad … to strengthen the Western alliance, in particular in the Indo-Pacific region,' Mr Downer told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio. 'She should be more creative in building a more successful Quad, which will be a deterrent against Chinese aggression.'
