Australia to join US-led military effort to guard oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has slammed the government’s decision to join a US-led military effort in the Strait of Hormuz.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale is dumbfounded by the government’s decision to join a US-led military effort to guard oil tankers from attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Senator Di Natale believes the mission will escalate tensions, saying it’s a mistake to send Australian troops, a surveillance plane and a Navy frigate to help protect shipping lanes from Iran.

“We don’t spill Australian blood on the back of a request from a dangerous administration, led by a dangerous president,” he told ABC’s Radio National today.

Earlier, Mr Di Natale said when parliament resumes, the Greens will restore a bill on war powers, which would mean decisions like these would require the approval of parliament.

In a separate Twitter post, Mr Di Natale said the prime minister had sent “us down the path to armed conflict with Iran”.

When Parliament resumes, we’ll restore our bill to establish war powers – which if passed, will mean that decisions like this require the approval of Parliament. We call on Labor and the Crossbench to support us so that we can bring our troops back home.

— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) August 21, 2019

By ordering our defence forces to set sail to the Strait of Hormuz, Scott Morrison has sent us down the path to armed conflict with Iran. Backing in Trump’s military adventurism will only make the world a more dangerous place.

— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) August 21, 2019

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia would participate in the multinational effort yesterday, calling Iran’s “destabilising behaviour” in the region a threat to Australia’s interests.

“The government has decided that it is in Australia’s national interest to work with our international partners to contribute,” he said.

“Our contribution will be limited in scope and it will be time bound.”

Scott Morrison said Australia will contribute troops, a surveillance plane and Navy frigate to protect oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Picture: AAP

Australia will deploy a Navy Frigate to the region for six months from January next year, and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon to patrol and provide surveillance for one month before the end of 2019.

Mr Morrison said a team of Australian Defence Force planning and operation staff would also be sent to headquarters for the International Maritime Security Construct headquarters in Bahrain.

“This is a modest, meaningful and time limited contribution that we are seeking to make to this international effort to ensure we maintain free flow of commerce and freedom of navigation, which his essential to our security and our economy,” he said.

“Australia will defend our interests wherever they may be under threat, we will always work closely with our international allies and partners, and we are steadfast as a regional partner.”

Mr Morrison said Australia’s contribution would be an “enhancement” of the country’s existing counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions in the waters of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

“Our contribution will be limited in scope and it will be time bound, and it will be part of an international mission, separate from any other matters in the region,” he said.

Between 15 and 16 per cent of crude oil — and 25 to 30 per of refined oil — destined for Australia transits through the Gulf strait.

“So it is a potential threat to our economy,” he said.

US sailors keep watch on the Strait of Hormuz. Picture: AFP

Israel’s military said on Tuesday it has conducted a joint exercise with US Special Forces simulating the retaking of a hijacked ship.

The drill comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf and efforts by the Trump administration to set up a naval security mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy.

The Persian Gulf has seen six attacks on oil tankers in recent weeks amid a growing confrontation between the United States and Iran in the wake of President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement between world powers and Tehran over a year ago.

The US has blamed the attacks, along with the downing of an American surveillance drone in the Persian Gulf, on Iran. Iran has denied involvement in the tanker attacks.

Israeli officials said the two militaries “exercised regaining control of a hijacked ship and extracting forces from enemy territory.”

Footage released by the army showed commandos parachuting and rappelling onto a ship and storming a container ship-like vessel during the exercise, dubbed “Naval Rose.”

The exercise was held last Wednesday, but details were only announced by the military on Tuesday.

The army said the drill had no connection to recent events and was planned as part of its annual training plan.

Originally published as Australia to join US-led military effort to guard oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz