Australia’s participation in a United Kingdom–France operation to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz is firmly on the table, despite the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s efforts to downplay any involvement.
The UK and France are planning to lead a multinational mission to secure international shipping routes, as a fragile agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was broken overnight.
The Albanese government has not ruled out participating in any eventuating operation.
Sky News understands it will consider supporting the nations where required as Australians monitor developments in the Middle East and bear the economic impacts at home.
The government had been hoping positive developments in Iran earlier in the weekend would lead to an early end to the war, though on Sunday Tehran cited “major differences” between the nations.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister said Australia could offer a “full range” of assistance.
“We spoke about the full range of support that could be required, now that could be diplomatic measures,” he said.
“We will continue to be a constructive contributor to that debate… Australia is a long way away as well from the Strait compared to European nations.
“It’s fair to say we’ll give considerations to requests where they are made.”
It came after he joined a virtual Leaders’ Summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Mr Starmer said a defensive military mission would be launched to protect “freedom of navigation” through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as “conditions allow”.
Approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes through the waterway during peacetime.
He said “over a dozen” countries had already offered to contribute assets.
He added the operation would be “strictly peaceful and defensive as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance”.
Talking to Sky News on Sunday morning, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy remained tight-lipped on the prospect of aiding the Brits and French with assets.
“We’re not quite at that stage of talking about specifics about what would be deployed and when,” he said.
“We were one of 49 countries that participated in the Strait of Hormuz Freedom of Navigation Summit.
“We’ve said we’re prepared to consider requests, but we’re already providing the Wedgetail [Boeing surveillance aircraft]. We’re already part of the diplomatic efforts. So, we’ll just see what comes of the London Summit.
“I think a critical part of it is de-escalating the conflict. I haven’t seen anyone suggest that the efforts led by the Europeans would be going in while there was an active conflict.”
Mr Albanese earlier in the week, only revealed there were “discussions taking place” about involvement.
“We have said that we want the Strait of Hormuz to be open and we’ve been a signatory, along with other countries, to statements along those lines.”
Italy indicated it would commit “naval units”, while Germany said it would take part in further “planning discussions”.
US President Donald Trump for his part warned North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries to “stay away” from the strait.
“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL.
“They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!”
Iran has disrupted trade and thoroughfare through the strait with strikes on ships and imposed tolls in exchange for safe passage but reached an agreement with the US to open the passageway.
The US, however, has continued blockading Iranian ports and ships over the past week and Tehran on Sunday said the move would force them to close the strait again.