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The federal government has defended its decision not to deploy an Australian warship to the Red Sea to protect vital shipping lanes after a request by the United States.
The move triggered a political row, with Opposition leader Peter Dutton accusing the Albanese government of weakness.
But today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hit back, insisting Australia was making a contribution to the US-led multinational naval force by sending six extra ADF personnel and there had been no top-level request.
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"We work very closely with our American friends and if Peter Dutton wants to continue to just snipe at the sideline at decisions that have been made by the Australian government with the support of the Australian Defence Force, that's a matter for him," he told Today this morning.
"There has been no request on a government-to-government level. The US certainly understands that our priority and the role that we play in the region is very significant."
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The government argues the Royal Australian Navy already has a long-standing deployment to waters in the Middle East, and naval priorities lay close to home in the Pacific and the South China Sea.
But the Coalition has called on the government to reverse its decision not to contribute to the multinational force, saying it is in our national interests to be part of because Australia depends on trade routes in the Red Sea.
Earlier this week, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect global shipping in the waters.
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Merchant ships have been targeted in drone and missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The US Navy asked 29 countries to participate including Australia.
The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain will join the US in the new mission, Austin said.
– With AP
