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Australia Pushes Back on Reports of U.S. Hormuz Support Request
(MENAFN) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese firmly rejected Friday any suggestion that Washington had approached Canberra with fresh requests for military assistance tied to Pentagon operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
"There's been no new requests at all. And indeed, (US) President (Donald) Trump has himself said that he has got this and he has made that position clear. There's been no change in Australia," Albanese told reporters at an oil refinery in Geelong that was damaged in a fire.
The denial came on the heels of pointed criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who lambasted American allies and NATO members over what he characterized as inadequate support in operations connected to Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes — has remained largely under Iranian restriction since the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran commenced on Feb. 28. Washington further tightened its grip on the situation this week, imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports beginning Monday.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles had earlier struck a notably engaged tone, stating that Canberra is "deeply invested" in preserving freedom of navigation through the strait, acknowledging the cascading impact that shipping disruptions are having on global energy markets.
Nevertheless, Australia has stopped short of confirming widespread reports of troop deployments to the Middle East, with officials maintaining a strict policy of declining to comment on special forces movements.
"There's been no new requests at all. And indeed, (US) President (Donald) Trump has himself said that he has got this and he has made that position clear. There's been no change in Australia," Albanese told reporters at an oil refinery in Geelong that was damaged in a fire.
The denial came on the heels of pointed criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who lambasted American allies and NATO members over what he characterized as inadequate support in operations connected to Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes — has remained largely under Iranian restriction since the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran commenced on Feb. 28. Washington further tightened its grip on the situation this week, imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports beginning Monday.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles had earlier struck a notably engaged tone, stating that Canberra is "deeply invested" in preserving freedom of navigation through the strait, acknowledging the cascading impact that shipping disruptions are having on global energy markets.
Nevertheless, Australia has stopped short of confirming widespread reports of troop deployments to the Middle East, with officials maintaining a strict policy of declining to comment on special forces movements.
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