Radio National Breakfast 'He's lashing out,' Malcolm Turnbull on Trump's criticism of Australia
Mar 17, 2026
Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian Prime Minister and commentator on foreign policy, outlines tensions in Australia–US ties. He discusses Trump's attacks on allies and the risks of naval escorts escalating conflict near the Strait of Hormuz. He critiques AUKUS as making Australia dependent and warns the US shift undermines the rules-based order.
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Act To Strengthen Australia's Strategic Independence
- Australia should prioritise greater strategic independence and sovereignty rather than deeper dependence on an unpredictable US.
- Turnbull is convening conferences and urges public and parliamentary debate because current bipartisan complacency obscures the change.
Trump's Words Reveal A Less Dependable US
- Donald Trump is openly lashing out at allies and shows he does not respect smaller countries.
- Malcolm Turnbull says Trump's posts reveal a less dependable US and underline the need for Australia to exercise greater sovereignty.
Allied Naval Escorts Could Escalate The Conflict
- Sending allied warships into the Strait of Hormuz could play into Iran's strategy of horizontal escalation.
- Turnbull warns that if allied ships were attacked it would broaden the conflict and increase pressure on the US rather than solve the problem.