Former Australian Ambassador to the United States, Arthur Sinodinos AO, has raised concerns about America’s reliability as an Australian ally in the face of President Donald Trump’s ‘America first’ policy.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Ouzo Talk Podcast, Sinodinos, who served as Ambassador under both the Trump and Biden administrations, pointed to a clear change in relations between the two countries but said that their security depends on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
“The concern would be how reliable America is going to be (as an) ally going forward, if it’s ‘America first, ’” admitted Sinodinos.
“The point we’re trying to make to the administration in Washington is that the security of the US is tied up with our security in the Indo-Pacific.
“I don’t think it’s right to say to them, ‘we need you’ – we should be saying, ‘you need us'. This is how we ultimately help you and your security in the world, and against China.”
Sinodinos is well-placed to comment on the situation. He has been closely involved in Australia’s negotiations related to AUKUS, the Quad, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, in addition to his time spent in Washington as Ambassador.
Last night, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded directly to whether he ‘trusts Donald Trump’ during the ABC Leaders Debate ahead of the May 3 election. The comments came after the Trump administration implemented 10% tariffs on Australian products.
“I have no reason not to (trust him),” said the Prime Minister.
“I’ve had a couple of discussions with him, and in the last discussion, we agreed on a series of words that he would give consideration – ‘great consideration’ was the word he used, and he did that.
“In the end, he decided, as part of the US administration, to put these tariffs on every country. We got the lowest amount, but we made it very clear that that was an act of self-harm by the United States.
“The United States enjoys a trade surplus with Australia. All this will do is put up costs for American consumers.”
Sinodinos—himself a veteran of the Liberal Party—echoed the Labour Prime Minister’s comments on tariffs during the wide-ranging discussion on Ouzo Talk. However, the Sinodinos warned us not to underestimate Trump as a politician.
“With Trump, when he speaks, take him seriously because if there’s a way he can achieve what he’s saying, he will try and do it,” warned Sinodinos.
“I’m saying don’t underestimate his skills as a politician.
“Some of it is a negotiating ploy, but he believes in tariffs. He says ‘Tariffs are the most beautiful word in the English language. He believes that tariffs raise revenue – that if he puts tariffs on the Chinese, they’re somehow paid by the Chinese – they’re not. They’re paid in the US by US consumers.
“People in his camp want to use tariffs to re-industrialise America and promote more manufacturing in America, so while some of it is a negotiating ploy, he does want tariffs – it’s not all bluff.
“If he wants something, he’ll go after it like a bulldozer, as we’ve seen recently with Panama, Greenland, Canada, Australia. We have to accept that that’s his modus operandi.
“It doesn’t mean we must run around with our hair on fire.”
The wide-ranging Ouzo Talk discussion also saw Sinodinos recall his time in the Howard Government while implementing Australian gun control and the GST. It also featured Greek-Australian Liberal candidate for Barton, Fiona Douksou, ahead of the upcoming Federal election on May 3.
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