US Navy Urges Australian Warship Deployment In Red Sea Amidst Rising Threats
In reaction to continuous attacks on commercial shipping by forces backed by Iran, the United States has recently asked Australia to send a warship to the Red Sea.
The US Navy has requested that Australia join the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), an international task force with 39 member nations. The goal of this coalition is to stop drug trafficking, piracy, and smuggling in the waters surrounding the Middle East.
Australia is evaluating the request following standard procedure and is already involved in maritime security in the area. According to Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the Defense Minister will assess the request and recommend how to proceed.
The attack on a tanker flying the flag of Norway by Houthi-controlled Yemen, which brought attention to the growing dangers to commercial shipping, prompted the call for Australian intervention.
The Houthis, who support Iran, have entered the Israel-Hamas conflict by firing missiles and drones at Israel and attacking ships in vital shipping lanes. In an act of support for Palestinians, the Houthis recently announced that they intended to attack any ship, regardless of nationality, that was sailing toward Israel.
The US and Britain have denounced the attacks on shipping and pointed their blame at Iran for arming the Houthis. Jane Hume, a senator for the Federal Coalition in Australia, stated that she favoured allies in the Middle East standing by trade routes.
Despite this, humanitarian organisations hope that Australia’s recent vote at the UN in support of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire will spur more support for a legally binding resolution in the Security Council. Australia recently broke with the US on this issue.
Both sides have suffered losses in the region’s ongoing conflict, which was brought on by Hamas fighters’ incursions into southern Israel. Australia is considering responding to the US request in light of the larger geopolitical context, so the situation is still complicated.
Reference: The Guardian