Australia to join Strait of Hormuz summit, but not send ships before war’s end
Australia will join UK and France-led international talks this week about safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz but is still unlikely to send any support before the US-Israel-Iran war ends.
Australia will join UK and France-led international talks this week about safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz but is still unlikely to send any support before the US-Israel-Iran war ends.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said Australia continued to work with its partners and, like them, wanted to see freedom of navigation resume as soon as possible.
Iran has choked shipping through the vital route where 20 per cent of the world’s oil supplies passed before the war began at the end of February.
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US President Donald Trump has ordered his navy to blockade the passage of Iranian vessels through the strait while talks aimed at ending the war stall.
“We’re deeply invested in having an open Strait of Hormuz and the global fuel supply chain return to normality,” Mr Marles said on Tuesday.
“We’re working with all of our partners, and that includes the US, but we are very much working with countries like the UK and France.”
Those talks included considering how Australia could best contribute, he said.
The Government has been resisting suggestions it would send an Australian ship to help clear the way for commercial shipping, although both the current and incoming ADF chiefs have said Defence has the capability to do so.
“But what I’d say about that is that, you know, all of those are predicated on when conditions allow that to occur,” Mr Marles said.
“And right now, you know, that is very uncertain, and we really need to see what plays out throughout the remainder of the ceasefire and as to what the circumstances are in the Strait of Hormuz, which would allow some effort to begin.”
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Australia had been clear that there had to be peace first before international efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz could begin.
“The key thing is there’s a coalition of nations that are really keen to see a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and for the Strait to be reopened via diplomatic means so that we can get ships moving through this vital waterway,” he said.
While UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the talks would be a “summit of leaders”, Australia is expected to have a military or diplomatic representative join.
