Boris Johnson says US Republicans have a ‘homoerotic obsession’ with Russia’s Vladimir Putin but support for Ukraine will continue
The former British leader was speaking at Doltone House in Sydney while promoting his political memoir Unleashed. A Melbourne event that had been scheduled for Saturday was cancelled, with publicist Max Markson saying Johnson had to fly home a day earlier than planned.
Nonagenarian singer Kamahl performed both verses of the Australian national anthem at the event and three pieces of Boris Johnson-themed art were auctioned, including an enlarged copy of his book cover which sold for $1200.
Boris Johnson’s memoir ‘Unleashed’ went on sale in the UK in October.Credit: Getty Images
The former PM’s comments, made in a question-and-answer session with News Corp journalist Sharri Markson, came as Ukrainian officials met Vice President-elect J. D. Vance and members of Trump’s national security team in Washington.
Vance, who has been critical of assistance to Ukraine, and congressman Michael Waltz – Trump’s choice to be national security adviser – spoke with Andriy Yermark, the chief-of-staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The New York Times reported Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, was also present alongside an aide to retired Army Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s pick as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
Yermak also met Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser.
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In Sydney, Johnson’s speech centred on his view that nations such as Australia and the UK should stop “sneering” at aspects of the US we may find distasteful, such as its gun culture or poor social safety net, while depending on its enormous military power for our collective security in an increasingly uncertain world.
Asked if he believed Trump would stick with the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the UK and the US, particularly the supply of nuclear-powered submarines, Johnson said he had not discussed it with Trump but he could not see why the president-elect would back away.
“It’s a good deal for the United States,” Johnson said. “There’s a problem with the time it takes to make a Virginia-class submarine, and I think the US will definitely be wanting to look at that, but on the whole I think it’s a good thing.
“I’ve heard him attack plenty of other deals that the Democrats have done. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Republicans attack AUKUS. On the contrary, I think it has pretty bipartisan support.”
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