Australia's defence chief said on Wednesday the United States warned him in 2021 that allegations Australian special forces soldiers killed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan may trigger a law prohibiting assistance from the United States.
The United States is Australia's biggest security alliance partner and Angus Campbell's comments are the first time it has been publicly disclosed there was a disruption to defence ties.
Asked by Greens Senator David Shoebridge how long the U.S. Department of Defense had suspended engagement with Australia's special forces, Campbell told a parliamentary committee: "There was a precautionary period where we looked to our arrangements."
