Australia hits back after being mocked by Russia as ‘having no cards’ to play in Indo-Pacific dispute

Australia has rejected arsenic “propaganda” Moscow’s assertions that it had “no cards” to play successful a determination subject practice betwixt Russia and Indonesia.

In a pointed missive published by The Jakarta Post, Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, dismissed Australia’s concerns implicit reports that Moscow had requested entree to a subject airbase successful Indonesia’s Papua province.

Canberra's “national interests cannot widen to the territory of neighbouring sovereign states that prosecute progressive and autarkic policies”, Mr Tolchenov wrote, earlier concluding with a barbed notation to erstwhile US president Donald Trump’s remarks to Ukraine’s person Volodymyr Zelensky: “You person nary cards.”

Mr Tolchenov accused Australian leaders of exploiting the contented for governmental summation during the country’s national predetermination campaign, claiming some large parties were “heating up the situation” and “playing the alleged ‘Russian card’”.

He besides questioned wherefore Australians would beryllium acrophobic astir subject enactment much than 1,300km away, and said Australia’s ain confederation with the US – including the Aukus information pact and the beingness of US submarines and missiles – posed a much pressing determination threat.

The contention follows a study by defence work Janes past week that Russia had formally requested support to basal subject craft astatine Biak, an Indonesian land northbound of Darwin. While Indonesian officials person rejected the thought of immoderate overseas subject base, they person not publically confirmed whether specified a petition was made. Russia has besides declined to clarify whether it submitted an authoritative proposal.

Australian premier curate Anthony Albanese dismissed the Russian missive arsenic authoritarian “propaganda” and reiterated his beardown stance against Moscow. “I’m anti-Russia,” Mr Albanese said during a property league connected Monday. “Russia wants propaganda to beryllium promoted by Australians. Of course, they privation propaganda, and Russia engages successful that.”

Mr Albanese besides avoided straight answering whether his authorities had received quality connected a Russian attack to Indonesia, alternatively insisting helium would not assistance the dispersed of Russian messaging.

“I person nary privation to assistance beforehand Russia’s propaganda messages and I would suggest that that is not successful Australia’s nationalist involvement either,” helium said.

The government’s handling of the contented has been criticised by absorption person Peter Dutton, who accused Mr Albanese of avoiding scrutiny. “The premier curate again has ducked and weaved connected this contented today,” said Mr Dutton. “I conscionable privation this premier curate could beryllium unfastened and honorable with the Australian people.”

The absorption has called for a nationalist information briefing connected the matter, claiming ministers person been inconsistent and evasive. Coalition frontbencher David Coleman said Labor was trying to “avoid scrutiny” and “doesn’t privation to travel clean” connected what it knows.

Labor legislator Murray Watt added to the disorder connected Sunday by saying determination was “no connection from Russia to person a basal anyplace successful Indonesia”, comparing absorption concerns to asking for a briefing connected the “Loch Ness monster”. But erstwhile pressed to corroborate that assertion connected Monday, helium declined to repetition it.

Indonesian officials person reiterated determination is nary ground for the rumour. Defence curate Prabowo Subianto told Australian defence curate Richard Marles that reports of Russian craft operating from Indonesia were “simply not true”, reported 9 News. Indonesian defence ministry spokesperson Frega Wenas likewise told Reuters the reports were incorrect.

Mr Marles said Australia remains assured successful its adjacent information narration with Indonesia, which is formalised done the Lombok Treaty and the Defence Cooperation Agreement. Australia conducts astir 20 associated subject exercises with Indonesia each year, and Mr Albanese described the narration arsenic having “never been stronger”.

“Indonesia is simply a sovereign nation,” the premier curate said. “So we proceed to enactment our statement astir our ain lawsuit and our ain narration with Indonesia. Indonesia and Russia person historically had relations that are antithetic from Australia’s.”