Australia has signed a joint statement with the United States (US) and other nations condemning Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Signatories include High Representative Josep Borrell on Behalf of the European Union, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on behalf of NATO, Japan, New Zealand, Yemen, The Bahamas, Liberia, Republic of Korea, and Singapore.
“The undersigned condemn Houthi interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Red Sea,” the statement read.
Iran-aligned Houthi rebel forces’ recent attacks have compelled major shipping companies to choose an alternative route around the Cape of Good Hope.
The Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, is the quickest route between Europe and Asia.
The statement added “numerous attacks” from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen “threaten international commerce and maritime security,” including the Dec. 3 incidents targeting three commercial vessels in the Southern Red Sea involving 14 nations
“The Houthi-led seizure of the Galaxy Leader on Nov. 19 and the detention of its 25-member international crew – who remain unjustly detained—is appalling.”
The statement said attacks threaten transporting food, fuel, humanitarian aid, and other essential items to destinations worldwide.
“There is no justification for these attacks, which affect many countries beyond the flags these ships sail under.”
This handout screen grab captured from a video shows Yemen's Houthi rebels takeover of the Galaxy Leader Cargo in the Red Sea coast off Hudaydah, in the Red Sea, Yemen, on Nov. 20, 2023. Houthi Movement via Getty Images
Albanese Government Considers Navy Deployment in Red Sea
The Albanese government is considering whether to dispatch a navy warship to the southern Red Sea as part of an enlarged U.S. naval task force request to safeguard global trade.Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite said, “At this stage, a decision hasn’t been made.”
“The chief of the Australian Defence Force participated in a virtual meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Defense to gain further information about the request that the United States was making of Australia regarding this operation in the Middle East,” he said.
“So, we gained some further information last night about the request and the defence force chief and the defence minister and no doubt the prime minister will now have a look at that information and we'll make a decision in due course.”
When questioned about the possibility of Australia refusing, he stated the nation is “already participating” in a joint maritime operation with the United States in the Middle East.
He noted that Australia and the U.S. collaborate closely with allies, especially in the Asia Pacific region, for freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea. HMAS Toowoomba has just completed this operation and additional Australian naval ships will join in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in, saying the government’s priority is acting in Australia’s best interest with a focus on the Indo-Pacific.
He said Australia aims to strengthen its ties with the Pacific nations, becoming their trusted partner and supporting the essential communication between the United States and China.
“What happens on the world stage matters to Australia. But we are not just observers of the interplay of others’ ambitions. And our foreign policy is not just a catalogue of things that happen to us,” he said at the 2023 Lowy Lecture on Dec. 19.
“What Australia says and does on the world stage matters—to our security, our prosperity, to the strength and stability of the region we call home.”
‘Troubling’: Concern Over Albanese’s Response
Defence Shadow Minister Andrew Hastie expressed concern about Mr. Albanese’s “troubling” hesitancy and indecision in responding to the United States’ “modest request” for maritime assistance.“The prime minister is dithering on this decision, in yet another example of weak leadership in national security,” he said.
He argued Australia has consistently contributed to global security and peacekeeping efforts.
“Over the past two decades, the Australian Defence Force has been active in the Middle East, effectively carrying out counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operations,” he said, adding that it should be no different this time.
He urged Australia to oppose “barbarism,” given that 12 percent of the world’s trade passes through the Red Sea lanes.
He posed several questions that, in his view, Mr. Albanese should address.
“Does the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have the personnel and capability to deploy to the Middle East? Can the RAN defend itself against the threat posed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels? Can they defend themselves against missile and drone attacks? If not, why not?”
“Australians deserve answers. We call upon the Albanese government to give them,” he said.
