Albanese To Join Strait Of Hormuz Talks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will represent Australia in a virtual meeting of world leaders focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz, scheduled for tonight Australian time.

The meeting, chaired jointly by the United Kingdom and France, is expected to include about 40 leaders and will centre on how the strait can be kept open once hostilities between the United States and Iran have ceased.

The United States will not attend the talks but is expected to be briefed on the outcome, according to government sources.

US President Donald Trump has criticised allies for not joining the US blockade of Iranian ports, which aims to allow non-Iranian shipping through the vital trade route, and said this morning he was “not happy” with Australia for not assisting in the Strait of Hormuz.

Both the UK and France have ruled out joining the blockade, arguing that doing so would mean joining the conflict with Iran, and have instead pointed to these multinational talks as a way to secure the strait once the war ends.

Earlier this week, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy indicated Australia would not join the blockade if asked by the US, stating: “Our position is that we are not party to this conflict, and we’ve got no intention to change that position.”

Reuters has reported that China has been invited to join the summit, though it was not clear if the invitation had been accepted.

Australia already has military assets in the region, with an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and 85 crew deployed to the United Arab Emirates.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia remains willing to discuss what contribution it could usefully make, noting ongoing talks with countries like the UK and France about potential support.