Russian ambassador claims Australia is a threat to regional stability, says military request to Indonesia was ‘defensive’
Russia’s ambassador to Jakarta has issued a statement about the request for military base access in Indonesia, saying Australia’s AUKUS deal is destabilising after the PM was grilled.
Russia’s ambassador to Jakarta has issued a statement about the request for a military base as Anthony Albanese declined to say whether or not the request for an air base was made.
Labor frontbenchers have also accused Peter Dutton of “fabricating” a statement from the Indonesian President.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said “reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true” – but multiple senior members of the government have today refused to say whether they knew if Vladimir Putin’s regime had made a formal request to Jakarta.
Meanwhile, both Mr Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were in Victoria ahead of tonight’s all-important second leaders’ debate.
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