Australia is participating in a meeting of 35 countries to discuss what viable measures can be taken to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene the group – which excludes the US – to assess what steps can be taken to reassert freedom of navigation, the safety of ships and seafarers, and the movement of commodities through the critical waterway.
Donald Trump has previously told European allies, including the UK, to “go get your own oil” amid escalating frustrations over a lack of support for his campaign in Iran.
On Thursday, Mr Marles confirmed Australia would be a part of UK discussions on available measures to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the meeting was “happening in the next 24 hours”.
“And obviously we did sign on to the UK-led statement that was made a week or so ago, and we will work with countries like the UK and France to see how we can help in respect of the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr Marles said.
“Obviously, we want to see the Strait of Hormuz open … It’s also important to note that we have him in the region our E7 Wedgetail, which is playing a really important role in providing for the defence of the countries of the Gulf, but specifically the UAE.
“So we will continue to work with the UK and France. We will be participating in those meetings to discuss that all of this, of course, is about whenever conditions allow for it.”
But Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, while backing the reopening of the shipping channel, raised questions about Australia’s capacity to contribute to such an effort.
“We haven’t got clarity from the government as to what requests have been made by the US government,” he said.
“We haven’t got clarity on what capability the government might have to help with that exercise.”
Pressed if he would like to see greater Australian efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Mr Taylor said: “Well, the first question is, what has been asked of us? I think that’s unclear at this point, and that needs to be clear.”
“Can we contribute naval ships, even if we were asked to right now? The lack of sustainment, the lack of investment in our defence capability, is putting us in a position where we have limited capacity to contribute, but we need to give any possible consideration,” he said.
About a fifth of the world’s oil supply travels through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blockaded by Tehran after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
More to come.
