Australia’s decision to reject the US request for naval forces to protect cargo shipping in the Red Sea has caused criticism and labeled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “weak.”
Instead, Australia will send 11 land-based military personnel in the New Year, citing a focus on the Pacific region.
“We won´t be sending a ship or a plane,” Defense Minister Richard Marles said. (Trending: Assault Weapons Ban Set To Take Effect, Here’s What To Know)
Australia Dithers over Direct U.S. Request to Join Red Sea Naval Patrols https://t.co/oYYnA5z0fW
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 19, 2023
“That said, we will be almost tripling our contribution to the combined maritime force.”
“We need to be really clear around our strategic focus, and our strategic focus is our region: the northeast Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Pacific,” Marles added.
“It´s in our national interest to contribute. If we want others to help us in a time of need, we need to step up and reciprocate now,” Opposition defense spokesman Andrew Hastie said.
The US-led mission aims to protect commercial shipping from attacks by Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, with a coalition formed by several nations, including the US, UK, Israel, and France. Australia’s refusal to send a warship has led to criticism and calls for contribution.
The Red Sea is a crucial trade route, with 10 percent of the world’s goods passing through it.
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