Australia's prime minister insists his country will not be forced to agree to American requests for military support in exchange for resettling refugees.
Protest by refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island. Photo: supplied
The agreement to take refugees from Nauru and Manus Island was brokered between Australia and the United States in the closing weeks of the Obama administration.
Before the White House confirmed last week that it will still go ahead, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter the agreement with Australia was a dumb deal.
Malcolm Turnbull said Australia would not feel indebted to the US, should it ask for extra troops in the Middle East, or warships in the South China Sea.
Donald Trump on the telephone in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: AFP
"We assess all requests for military assistance on their merits and there is no linkage at all between an arrangement relating to refugee resettlement and any other matters."
Meanwhile, Amnesty International believes Australia's refugee deal with the US is dead in the water, despite indications from the White House that it will honour the agreement.
- ABC
