2023-12-22 09:27:47
Canberra: Australia has reiterated its position that it cannot send warships to participate in ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ to counter the Houthis who are threatening Israeli ships in the Red Sea. Australia’s federal government has rejected a US request to send three ships with anti-missile capability. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that he will not back down from this position and believes that the United States will understand this.
Australia is a member of the ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ coalition formed by the US to secure shipping through the Red Sea. As part of this, the warships of America, Britain and France are in and around the Red Sea. US warships neutralized several missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis against ships sailing towards Israel. It is estimated that neutralizing each missile costs between $2,000 and $20,000.
The United States has asked its allies to send missile-capable ships to participate in the operation in the Red Sea, but Australia has only said it will send six naval personnel. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said that five or ten more soldiers can be sent if the need arises. He said that they are not sending any ships or aircraft to fight the Houthis and that their ships are focused on the northeast of the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
The opposition protested against the administration for rejecting the invitation of its ally, the United States. Opposition leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of weakness and laziness in the decision and said only Hamas would welcome it. Dutton said that the administration led by Albanese is becoming a laughing stock in front of the international community.
In response to this, Albanese has come forward with a statement that he is firm on the position taken. He said that such a decision was taken in consultation with the army and those who mocked it could do so.
“We are working closely with our American friends. If Dutton’s decision is to sit out and make fun of a decision taken by the administration with the support of the Australian Defense Force, he can do so. There has been no request at the state level to send ships. America knows what our priorities are.’ – he said.
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