Australia's former Prime Minister Paul Keating has dropped a bombshell 🎤💥, accusing the current government of turning the land Down Under into the 51st state of the United States! 🇦🇺➡️🇺🇸
Speaking on an ABC TV program, Keating didn't hold back. He slammed the Albanese government for bending to U.S. will over the AUKUS pact—a trilateral agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US focused on nuclear submarines. 🛸🚢
\"AUKUS is really about, in American terms, the military control of Australia,\" he said. \"The Albanese government and their policy is likely to turn Australia into the 51st state of the United States.\" 😱
Keating questioned the necessity of such an alliance, pointing out that Australia is a vast continent with no neighboring borders. \"Australia is not likely to be threatened. The only threat likely to come for us is because we have an aggressive ally, because of AUKUS,\" he emphasized. 🌏✌️
He further explained that if Australia didn't have \"an aggressive ally\" like the U.S., which is \"aggressive toward others in the region,\" there would be no threat to Australia. Keating suggested that the U.S. is trying to \"superintend China,\" but China has \"no strategic designs on Australia.\" 🤔🇨🇳
Keating also warned that the growing U.S. military presence could overshadow Australia's own defense capabilities. He likened it to how the U.S. views territories like Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. \"Such an outcome is likely to turn the Australian government, in defense and security terms, into simply the national administrator of what would be broadly viewed in Asia as a U.S. protectorate,\" he added. 🌐
With these strong words, Keating is sparking a debate on Australia's future and its independence in global politics. What do you think? Is Australia losing its identity, or is this alliance crucial for security? Let's talk! 🎙️💬
Reference(s):
Ex-PM Keating accuses Australian govt of bending to U.S. will on AUKUS
cgtn.com
