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Twitter diplomacy: Trump trades words with friends and foes on social media

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Australia joined an exclusive club on Thursday, getting a first-hand view of the new mode of international diplomacy that occurs when the US president is displeased. 

As the Turnbull government and the US embassy in Canberra repeatedly assured that the refugee deal with the United States would go ahead, the new US president took to Twitter to cast some doubt.

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Turnbull Trumped by phone-y diplomacy

As embarrassing details of Malcolm Turnbull's first phone call with Donald Trump are revealed, the refugee agreement the President blasted as "the worst deal ever" hangs in the balance. Courtesy Seven News Melbourne.

"I will study this dumb deal!" he wrote, referring to the 1200 refugees the US agreed to take from Manus Island and Nauru.

It came as a shock for many in Australia and overseas that Mr Trump would publicly create waves with such a strong ally.

However, the tweet follows Mr Trump's established behaviour on social media since he was elected.

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He has enthusiastically used Twitter to praise conventional allies, like Israel, and call for closer ties with traditional foes - namely Russia.

Aside from Australia, other countries to feel his social media fury include Mexico, China and Iran.

Here are the countries Trump has singled out on Twitter during his time as President and President-elect.

1. Mexico

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto has cancelled his meeting with Donald Trump..

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled his meeting with Donald Trump after he tweeted. Photo: AP

During the presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly assured supporters he would make Mexico pay for a wall on the border between the countries.

After being sworn in, he continued his criticism of the country, which he said had "taken advantage of the US". 

He also said if Mexico didn't want to pay for a wall, it should cancel a planned face-to-face meeting - which the Mexican President did.

2. Iran

Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian head of state, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: AP

Shortly before he tweeted about Australia's refugee deal on Thursday, Mr Trump said Iran was "taking over more and more of Iraq".

He also said the US had "squandered three trillion dollars" in Iraq.

The comment came shortly after the White House rebuked Iran for test-firing a ballistic missile.

3. China

China's President Xi Jinping presented himself as a champion of globalisation and free markets at Davos.

China's President Xi Jinping. Photo: AP

As the world counted down to his inauguration, Trump repeatedly tweeted about China - accusing it of "taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the US", and building "a massive military complex" in the South China sea without asking the US about it.

He also accused the Chinese military of taking a US drone in an "unprecedented act" - then said the US should let them keep it.

4. Cuba

Cuba's President Raul Castro watches a parade in honor of his late brother Fidel Castro in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. Soldiers, students and people marched in a show of solidarity and homage to Castro who died in November of last year. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan)

Cuba's President Raul Castro pictured in Havana on January 2. Photo: AP

Several days after the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Trump threatened to "terminate" the resumption of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US if Cuba was "unwilling to make a better deal".

In 2014, former US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced dialogue between the countries would re-open, after being estranged for decades.

This led to the resumption of commercial flights, relaxing of US travel restrictions, and the re-opening of embassies.

5. Taiwan

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. Photo: AP

Early in his period as President-elect, Mr Trump made waves by accepting a congratulatory call from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen.

He then wrote on Twitter: "Thank you!"

The move was seen as provocative, as it compromised the United States' long-time One China policy - which does not acknowledge Taiwanese independence from China.

6. Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: AP

Israel is one of the rare countries to be praised by the US leader.

In late December, Mr Trump - then President-elect - said Israel "used to have a great friend in the US" and urged the country to "stay strong" ahead of his inauguration.

The tweet came after the US abstained from a vote in the United Nations, which allowed a resolution to be adopted that said Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory have "no legal validity".

7. Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin, pictured near Moscow on January 30.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, pictured near Moscow on January 30. Photo: AP

Russia is another country to be defended by Mr Trump.

Following the release of a controversial intelligence dossier by Buzzfeed, which said Russian operatives attempted to collect compromising information on him, Mr Trump wrote the country has "never tried to use leverage over me".

While he was still President-elect, he also highlighted their "good relationship" in a series of tweets.

 He wrote the US has "enough problems around the world" without creating "yet another one".