Marlesy and Pete
An odd statement from the Pentagon about Defence Minister Richard Marles' White House visit sent Canberra into a tailspin this week, but a former advisor to Ronald Reagan says "people need to calm down".
If one comment from the US President can move markets, one oddly-worded statement from a Pentagon official can send Canberra into a tailspin for several hours.
Ten words from an unnamed official on Thursday immediately undercut Defence Minister Richard Marles’ attempts to spruik his catch-up with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“There was not a meeting. It was a happenstance encounter,” those ten words read.
That description immediately seemed odd, given Marles was pictured with Hegseth and US Vice President JD Vance in the White House. They had hardly bumped into each other on the street.
