“The apparent convergence between Shoebridge and Trump is striking because their political philosophies are otherwise so dissimilar. Yet, both positions risk producing a similar practical outcome: reducing pressure on Moscow while placing additional burdens on a country fighting for its very survival,” writes political columnist ROBERT McMAHON. 

It’s a common refrain that politics makes for strange bedfellows. And so, in recent weeks, we have seen a striking example of that old adage in action. 

On the one side of the bed is newly minted Greens leader, Senator David Shoebridge, arguably the most left-leaning leader to ever take on the minor party’s leadership.

On the other, US President Donald Trump, an intellectually limited leader whose embrace of far-right politics includes denying the outcomes of democratic elections. Unless they favour him. 

And yet, there they are, rolling about in the same geopolitical bed. In effectual embrace of the interests of Russia; and sell-out of Ukraine and the international rule of law. Their love potion? Naïveté – with a good dash of expediency.

For those readers perusing this column over their morning Sultana Bran, let’s move on from my boudoiric metaphor before it causes digestive reflux, and review my claim. 

On his recent election as Greens leader, Shoebridge, also the party’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, proclaimed that the party would no longer support the provision of Australian military aid to Ukraine unless supported by resolution of the UN Security Council. 

In apparent resonance with Russia’s expansionist land grab, in making his announcement, he described Ukraine as “the Ukraine”; an old Soviet expression for the now democratic nation-state. 

The core and basic problem with Shoebridge’s position is, of course, that Russia is a veto-voting member of the UN Security Council. So any resolution by it to provide military support to Ukraine would simply be vetoed by Russia.

This elementary reality betrays both the naïveté and lack of knowledge of basic international law by the Australian Greens and its new leader. As if to underline Shoebridge’s apparent ignorance, when he subsequently met with Australian-Ukrainian groups to explain his pronouncement, he reportedly warned them “not burn your bridges” in publicly critiquing it.

Such an entreaty could only be reasonably interpreted as a threat to interest groups with every right, including at law, to criticise Greens policy. 

At around the same time, President Trump – with no excuse of inexperience in government – announced he would suspend the US’s previous economic sanctions of Russia in the form of a ban of the purchase of Russian energy exports.

In its place, Trump made an executive order providing for the immediate importation of 300,000 tonnes of diesel to be followed by another 500,000 in November, and then millions more in the months to follow. 

These sanctions had been imposed by many Western nations to deny Russia precious revenue to fund its industrial war machine directed to ongoing attacks on Ukraine since its invasion in February 2022.

Trump justified the executive order to force peace between Russia and Ukraine; whereas in reality, it was an all-too-obvious domestic play to appease American voters angry about the price of fuel in the US caused by the oil crisis following his hamfisted military action in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the lead-up to the mid-term congressional elections, fuel prices had become a hot-button issue in the US – a nation famously dependent on oil for transport, agriculture and manufacturing. 

In their respective actions, both leaders have disgracefully and wilfully betrayed Ukraine at a time when all Western powers should be rallying to its protection from the unlawful and murderous invasion by Russia led by the despot Vladimir Putin.

The apparent convergence between Shoebridge and Trump is striking because their political philosophies are otherwise so dissimilar. Yet, both positions risk producing a similar practical outcome: reducing pressure on Moscow while placing additional burdens on a country fighting for its very survival.

But both actions are also a timely reminder to voters – here and around the world – of the importance of casting their ballots for parties and leaders who display measured, tested and competent experience in government.

In electoral politics, the stakes of government are high; and a vote exercised reflexively in anger or frustration can have serious results in the resultant government and consequent policy decisions enacted. 

Shoebridge and Trump’s actions are therefore no small salutary warning: in politics, good intentions are no substitute for good judgment. And innocent Ukrainian lives will undoubtedly be lost paying the price for this incompetence. 

Senator Shoebridge was asked by CityNews to provide an explanation for his policy announcement. He did not do so.

Dr Robert McMahon is a visiting fellow at the ANU, adjunct professor of government at the University of Canberra, and a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

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