US-Australia refugee agreement under threat after Trump criticises 'dumb deal'

Donald Trump has upset the applecart once again via Twitter, as he questioned the value of an agreement between the US and Australia which would see 1,250 asylum seekers relocated to America.

The deal to bring the refugees from camps in Nauru and Manus Island was agreed to by former US President Barack Obama, but heavily criticised by his successor both through the social media site and during a conversation with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

"Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!" Trump tweeted late on Tuesday.

The tweet followed on from reports earlier this week of a fractious phone call between Turnbull and Trump, which was brought to an abrupt halt by the US President. Trump is reported to have referred to the refugee agreement as the "worst deal ever".

Turnbull refuted the claims however, saying that he has received assurances from Trump that the agreement would be going ahead.

"We have a clear commitment from the president," Turnbull told Melbourne radio station 3AW. "We expect that the commitment will continue."

The Australian detention camps have been heavily criticised by the United Nations, with human rights activists claiming the asylum seekers have been subjected to physical and sexual assault by guards.

A further phone call with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Sunday has also been the subject of a leaked transcript, which appear to show Trump threatening to send US troops over the southern border to deal with so-called "bad hombres", and casting doubt over Mexico's ability to deal with organised crime in the region.