US, Australia Could ‘Disconnect’ If Victoria’s Belt and Road Partnership Presents a Risk: Pompeo

US, Australia Could ‘Disconnect’ If Victoria’s Belt and Road Partnership Presents a Risk: Pompeo
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, on April 29, 2020. Andrew Harnik/File/AP Photo
Daniel Y. Teng
Updated:

The U.S. Secretary of State says the United States will “simply disconnect” with Australia if the Victorian state’s Belt and Road partnership with Beijing presents any risk to telecommunications infrastructure.

Mike Pompeo told Sky News on May 24 that the United States was keen to continue working with Australia on security and that it was a “great partner,” but it needed to prioritise the safety of its own telecommunications network.