Australia forces to avoid airspace that could bring them close to Russian, Syrian aircraft

Australian forces will make ‘practical’ judgment to avoid airspace that could bring them close to Russian aircraft, says PM.

Malcolm Turnbull said the “mutual self-interest” of the major powers engaged in Syria meant that all sides would try to avoid operating in areas that could spark problems. Picture: AAP

Australian military forces operating in the Middle East are making a “practical” judgment to avoid airspace that could bring them close to Russian or Syrian aircraft, amid warnings from Russia about potential conflict in the wake of a US missile strike against a chemical weapons base.

Malcolm Turnbull said the “mutual self-interest” of the major powers engaged in Syria meant that all sides would try to avoid operating in areas that could spark problems, after Russia said it would suspend an information-sharing agreement aimed at preventing direct conflict.

The “deconfliction” agreement has seen Russian and US forces check with each other on air operations in Syrian airspace out of concern at the potential for accidental clashes, but this is in doubt because of the tensions over the missile strike against the air base used by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to launch a chemical weapons attack against his own people.

Speaking in Port Moresby after a briefing from Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin, the Prime Minister said it was in the interests of all sides to avoid operations that could escalate any conflict.

“I’ve spoken to the chief of the defence force just a few minutes ago. My information is, based on that discussion, that in practical terms the parties are doing what I expected them to do as I said yesterday — that is, acting in their own mutual self-interest, which is to avoid operating in areas where confliction could occur,” Mr Turnbull said.

“That is the current practical position as I’m talking to you now based on my discussions a few moments ago with the CDF.”

Mr Turnbull also hardened his language about the need for Russia to use its power over Assad to stop the conflict.

“The onus is now on Russia to pull Assad into line,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Let’s be quite clear: the Assad regime is a client state of Russia.

“The Americans have taken a very carefully calibrated response designed to prevent that air base being used for further chemical attacks — and to send a strong message to the he Assad regime that they will not tolerate this breach of international law, this gassing of the Syrian population.”

Mr Turnbull played down the prospects for an escalation in the tensions between Russia and the US, even as Russian president Vladimir Putin sent two warships to the coast off Syria to assist his ally.

“The Americans have made it very clear that that is a one-off response,” Mr Turnbull said of the missile strike.

“They are not proposing to escalate or take further steps in the absence of any other action by the Syrian government.

“So the onus now is on Russia to ensure that Syria does not engage in any other provocative actions, and that Russia itself does not engage in any other provocative actions.”