Australia, as well as the United States and a coalition of other nations, has expressed serious concern for the safety of international commerce due to Houthi militant attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. High Representative Josep Borrell, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and representatives from Japan, New Zealand, Yemen, The Bahamas, Liberia, Republic of Korea, and Singapore also signed the joint statement condemning these attacks. These Houthi-led attacks have forced major shipping companies to use alternative routes for transporting essential goods, disrupting international commerce and threatening maritime security.
The joint statement condemns Houthi interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula. Iran-aligned Houthi forces’ recent attacks have led to the seizure of a cargo vessel and the detention of its crew, as well as attacks on three commercial vessels in the Southern Red Sea. The statement highlights that no justification exists for these violent attacks, which have far-reaching implications on global trade. In light of these developments, the Australian government is considering a request to deploy a navy warship to the southern Red Sea as part of a larger U.S. naval task force to safeguard global trade and protect freedom of navigation in the region.
While the Australian government has not yet made a decision on the deployment, Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite hinted that this is a possibility. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized Australia’s commitment to acting in the nation’s best interests, focusing on the Indo-Pacific. He called for strengthening ties with Pacific nations, supporting communication between the United States and China, and safeguarding Australia’s security and prosperity. However, political leaders have expressed concern over a lack of decisiveness in response to the United States’ request.
Defence Shadow Minister Andrew Hastie criticized the prime minister for showing hesitancy to respond to the modest request for maritime assistance, given Australia’s longstanding contributions to global security. He urged the government to address concerns related to the Navy’s capacity to deploy to the Middle East amidst escalating threats in the Red Sea. As the situation evolves, Australia is faced with a crucial decision regarding its role in safeguarding international commerce and ensuring maritime security in the region.