Australia would be wise to tread very carefully
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AMERICAN ALLIES
I read with horror the report, 'Marles backs Hegseth speech' (1/6). Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claims: 'We (the United States) are prepared to do what the Department of Defence does best, to fight and win decisively.″ As far as I recall, the opposite applies. Has he forgotten Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan? And what about Korea?
Australia must tread very carefully when dealing with the US. America will do nothing that is not in its own best interests. To my knowledge, Australia (under the Morrison government) is the only country to have publicly stated that it will join America in war with China over Taiwan. If such a war occurs, China will never attack sovereign American territory. Not so for Australia. In fact, the first targets to be taken out will be the American communication bases.
If Defence Minister Richard Marles thinks that by supporting Hegseth, we will get a better trade deal, I question his judgment.
Jim Lamborn, Doncaster
Trump's US must not dictate our defence policy
It was disappointing to read of Defence Minister Richard Marles' sycophantic response to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's bellicose stance on China and his push for Australia to increase our defence expenditure.
The ALP must stand by its election promise to maintain our strategic relationship with an unreliable Trumpian America while simultaneously fostering our still-recovering rapprochement with China in a way fully consistent with our national interest.
It would be intolerable to have Donald Trump's unstable America dictating our defence policy. We must make it clear to Trump that Australia can only guarantee our strategic support when the US proves itself again a reliable ally.
Terry Hewton, Henley Beach South, SA
We need an independent defence minister
Seeking to distract from his country's rapidly increasing disarray, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth comes out swinging with a bellicose return to a 1950s foreign policy stance, evoking all the death and destruction that has involved.
Richard Marles responds with his usual grovel but goes back even further with his slogan, 'Peace through strength' – frighteningly reminiscent of 'Peace in our time'.
Australia, right now, is in urgent need of an independent forward-thinking defence minister to plan beyond the increasingly irrational and ever-myopic self-interest of the US.
John Laurie, Riddells Creek
Just what is Marles actually saying?
Is Defence Minister Richard Marles endorsing Australia joining the United States if there is war with China over its claims that Taiwan belongs to China?
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
'Peace through strength' a contradiction
Yet again, we foolishly acquiesce to the trumpeting of war by the US. As is seen daily in many parts of the US, it is in chaos. Under Donald Trump, it has ambushed many allies on tariffs.
Richard Marles does not seem to understand that 'peace through strength' is a contradiction and is not a prelude to a peaceful world. This is demonstrated every day in Gaza and Ukraine.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Marles has placed us in harm's way
Here we go again. The last time Australia hitched itself to the Donald Trump wagon, China imposed costly trade restrictions. Moreover, Defence Minister Richard Marles has placed us in harm's way. Trumpian America's self-delusion knows no bounds.
America's Vietnam adventure ended in a humiliating withdrawal. That taking on an industrialised China on its home turf wouldn't end in abject failure is ludicrous to the extreme. If Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has any concern for the national interest, he'll rein in his defence minister and ask Foreign Minister Penny Wong to explain to Beijing in diplomatic terms that our sabres will be rattled only in self-defence of our own shores.
John Mosig, Kew
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