Lyla Lindsey
In 2017, Donald Trump criticised a deal made between the Obama administration and Australia, calling it the worst deal ever. The deal, negotiated by President Obama and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, involved the resettlement of up to 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. In return, there were rumours that Australia would resettle refugees from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, held in a US offshore processing centre in Costa Rica. The agreement also included enhanced military cooperation, with the US and Australia committing to increase military interoperability and intelligence cooperation, as well as build cooperation with regional partners.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the deal | 2017 |
| Number of refugees | 1,250 |
| Origin of the refugees | Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru |
| Duration of stay | 3 years |
| US-Australia relationship | Enduring strength and closeness critical for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and globally |
| Military interoperability | Bilateral defense and security cooperation |
| Intelligence cooperation | Intelligence cooperation |
| Nuclear security | Cooperation on nuclear security |
| Biological threats | Cooperation to counter biological threats |
| Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) | Cooperation to prevent future outbreaks from becoming epidemics |
| Deployment of US Marines | 2,500 in Darwin |
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What You'll Learn
- The US agreed to consider resettling 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres
- The US would vet the refugees
- The deal was part of a broader strategic partnership between the two countries
- The US and Australia share an interest in maintaining freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea
- The deal was criticised by Trump as a dumb deal and the worst by far
The US agreed to consider resettling 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres
The deal between the US and Australia, brokered between former President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, involved the resettlement of up to 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, which are part of Papua New Guinea. The refugees had been intercepted at sea and sent to these centres, and most had been on the islands for over three years. The deal was part of a broader agreement between the two countries to cooperate on defence and security, as well as the resettlement of refugees.
The agreement was criticised by President Donald Trump, who referred to it as a "dumb deal" and a "horrible deal" on Twitter. He characterised it as the US agreeing to take "thousands of illegal immigrants" from Australia. However, the deal involved fewer than 2,000 people, and the individuals would enter the US through a legal refugee program, not illegally. Trump's administration nevertheless agreed to honour the deal, with extreme vetting applied to the refugees.
The US-Australia refugee deal was part of a broader context of cooperation between the two countries. For example, in 2015, the US applauded Australia's commitment to spend 2% of its GDP on defence, contributing to regional and international security. The two countries also served side-by-side in Afghanistan for over a decade and shared the goal of reaching a political solution in Syria, providing humanitarian aid, and resettling refugees.
The US and Australia also had a joint military exercise in 2015, Talisman Saber, which demonstrated the strength of their alliance. As part of an agreement announced during Obama's visit to Australia, it was decided that Darwin would be the location for a rotating presence of up to 2,500 US Marines, who would train with Australian troops and potentially those of third countries.
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The US would vet the refugees
The deal between the Obama administration and Australia involved the resettlement of up to 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, where instances of abuse have been reported. The deal was made in return for US help with Australia's offshore refugees. The US agreed to vet the refugees, applying “extreme vetting conditions". This deal allowed both countries to maintain their tough border enforcement policies while meeting international treaty obligations to provide refuge to those held in detention centres who have been determined to have refugee status.
The agreement was for those recognised as legitimate refugees on Manus and Nauru, which the United States would vet. This vetting process was suggested by The Guardian as a way for the US to honour the deal while finding the refugees unsuitable.
The Obama administration's agreement with Australia was criticised by President Trump, who called it a "horrible deal" and a "dumb deal". Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, stated that the vetting process would be rigorous, saying, "there will be extreme vetting applied to all of them as part and parcel of the deal that was made".
Despite Trump's opposition to the deal, it appears to be an executive-to-executive agreement, and Trump has pledged to uphold it.
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The deal was part of a broader strategic partnership between the two countries
The deal between former US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was part of a broader strategic partnership between the two countries. The deal, which resurfaced after Trump signed an executive order halting the refugee admission program, involved the US taking in refugees from Manus Island and Nauru, where Australia had been sending asylum seekers arriving by boat.
The broader strategic partnership between the US and Australia included a range of initiatives. Firstly, the US–Australia Force Posture Agreement, announced in 2011, detailed plans for enhanced military cooperation, including the deployment of 2,500 US Marines to Darwin and trilateral military exercises in Southeast Asia. Secondly, the two countries shared an interest in maintaining freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea, particularly in the South China Sea, and worked together to counter biological threats and advance the Global Health Security Agenda. Thirdly, they had strong bilateral energy cooperation, with US investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) set to make Australia the world's largest LNG exporter. Finally, the US planned to open a "landing pad" in Silicon Valley to support Australian innovators and entrepreneurs.
The US-Australia relationship has historically been strong, dating back to World War II when the US military helped defend Australia from Japanese invasion. This shared history has led to a deep sense of connection between the two countries, and Australian support for the US agenda. The deal between Obama and Turnbull was a reflection of this broader strategic partnership and a commitment to cooperation between the two nations.
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The US and Australia share an interest in maintaining freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea
The US-Australia refugee deal was negotiated by the Obama administration in 2016. The deal would see the US take up to 1,300 asylum seekers from Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, in Papua New Guinea. In return, Australia would resettle Central American refugees. The deal was criticised by President Trump, who called it a "horrible" and "dumb deal" in a tweet, although he did agree to honour it.
The US and Australia have a strong bilateral alliance and relationship, and Australia has stood shoulder to shoulder with the US on issues of critical international security. In 2011, Obama announced that the US would establish a permanent military presence in Australia, with a small number of US Marines to be deployed to Darwin and Northern Australia. This was part of the US's strategy to assert its influence in the Pacific and maintain stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition to the military partnership, the US and Australia have cooperated on other international issues. For example, both countries were part of a coalition dealing with ISIL in Iraq, and Australia has been an outstanding member of the coalition in Afghanistan. The two countries also discussed China's proposal for an Infrastructure Investment Bank in the region.
The US and Australia also share an interest in maintaining freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea. This is particularly important in the Asia-Pacific region, where both countries have a strong presence and interest in maintaining stability. The US has a long-standing commitment to ensuring the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and Australia has supported this effort.
The US and Australia have also collaborated on addressing the issue of nuclear proliferation in North Korea. In 2014, President Obama sent James Clapper to North Korea to secure the release of American detainees, and to try to engage in broader talks on nuclear issues. However, at that time, there was a lack of serious engagement from Pyongyang on the issue.
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The deal was criticised by Trump as a dumb deal and the worst by far
The deal between former US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was criticised by then-President Donald Trump as a "dumb deal" and the "worst by far". Trump's comments came in the wake of a phone call with Turnbull, which was described as "fraught" and "the worst call by far" in a series of talks with world leaders.
Trump took to Twitter to express his displeasure at the agreement, stating: "Do you believe it? The Obama administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!". Trump's characterisation of the deal was inaccurate in two ways. Firstly, the deal involved fewer than 2,000 people, not "thousands". Secondly, the individuals would enter the United States legally through the refugee program, not illegally.
The deal between Obama and Turnbull was an agreement for the resettlement of up to 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, where they had been held for over three years. The United States would vet the refugees as part of the agreement. The deal reflected the similar border strategies of the two countries and allowed them to maintain their tough border enforcement policies while meeting international treaty obligations to provide refuge to those determined to have refugee status.
Trump's criticism of the deal stemmed from his opposition to refugee resettlement and his campaign promise to keep out Muslims. However, despite Trump's displeasure, his administration ultimately honoured the agreement, with Press Secretary Sean Spicer stating that the deal would continue under "extreme vetting" conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
The deal in question was an agreement between the Obama administration and Australia to resettle 1,250 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
Australia has a strict policy against illegal maritime arrivals and has intercepted migrants at sea, sending them to regional processing centres on Pacific islands. The deal allowed Australia to maintain its tough border enforcement policies while meeting international treaty obligations to provide refuge to those held in detention centres.
The US and Australia have a strong bilateral relationship and history of cooperation on defence, security, and refugee resettlement. The US also has an interest in maintaining its presence in the Pacific region and working with allies like Australia to counter threats from countries like North Korea.
The deal was criticised by some, including President Trump, who called it a "dumb deal" and accused Australia of wanting to send "illegal immigrants" to the US. However, the deal was supported by others, including the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Australian Prime Minister Turnbull, who emphasised the strong relationship between the two countries.
It is unclear what the final outcome of the deal was. President Trump initially pledged to uphold the deal but later tried to walk back from it. It is possible that the deal was honoured, with the US vetting and resettling the refugees, but it is unclear how many were ultimately accepted.
