Australia to join Strait of Hormuz summit, but not send ships before war’s end

Australia will join UK and France-led international talks this week about safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz but is still unlikely to send any military support before the US-Israel-Iran war ends.

The fresh discussions and military planning for securing the vital shipping route after a ceasefire deal came as the Government is poised to detail how it will prepare for and tackle Australia’s most significant strategic risks.

It’s also in the midst of framing a Budget — to be handed down in just four weeks — that will now be largely shaped by the war and fuel crisis.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese landed in Brunei on Tuesday evening for his second round of in-person talks to secure Australia’s fuel and fertiliser supplies from Asian partners.

The Government says supplies have been firmed up “well into May” but it continues to be worried about the longer-term situation as the war drags on.

While supply is the primary focus, it’s likely to include longer-term resilience measures in the Budget to buffer Australia against fresh energy shocks in the future.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor cited liquid fuels as an example of governments – including the Coalition administration in which he was energy minister – welcoming the benefits of globalisation without thinking through all the risks.

“Today’s fuel crisis reinforces the fragility of global supply chains – and the folly of allowing our sovereign industries to be hollowed out where those industries are of strategic importance,” he said.

Iran has choked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route where 20 per cent of the world’s oil supplies passed before the war began at the end of February.

It is reportedly seeking to charge multi-million-dollar tolls for ships to sail through.

US President Donald Trump has ordered his Navy to blockade the passage of Iranian vessels through the Strait while talks aimed at ending the war stall.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said Australia wanted to see the Strait reopened as soon as possible.

That work includes sending a high-level diplomatic or Defence representative to talks led by the UK and France this week.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the summit would focus on diplomatic efforts to end the war and military planning to give assurances to shipping once that happens.

“Let me be very clear: this is about safeguarding shipping and supporting freedom of navigation once the conflict ends,” he said.

Mr Marles said the discussion around those efforts and how Australia could best contribute were all “predicated on when conditions allow that to occur”.

“We’re deeply invested in having an open Strait of Hormuz and the global fuel supply chain return to normality,” he said.

“And right now, you know, that is very uncertain, and we really need to see what plays out throughout the remainder of the ceasefire and as to what the circumstances are in the Strait of Hormuz, which would allow some effort to begin.”

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Australia had been clear that there had to be peace first before international efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait could begin.

“The key thing is there’s a coalition of nations that are really keen to see a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and for the Strait to be reopened via diplomatic means so that we can get ships moving through this vital waterway,” he said.

The Government has resisted suggestions that it would send an Australian ship to help clear the way for commercial shipping, although both the current and incoming ADF chiefs have said Defence has the capability to do so.

It is adamant the US has not formally asked Australia to join any military efforts in the Middle East, beyond sending an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to help the UAE defend itself.

Australia’s refusal to join the US-led naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was highlighted in the latest viral Iranian propaganda video featuring LEGO characters.

Over recent days, Iranian-linked outlet Explosive News has produced numerous comical clips mocking US President Donald Trump and the US military operation, which have generated millions of views online through social media.

In a recently released instalment LEGO characters are featured in front of Australian flags and a document stating “We will not join” along with a narrator declaring: “the gavel is falling, the world is learning”.

Mr Marles will release the biannual update of the Government’s national defence strategy on Thursday.

This will outline how it plans to ensure the ADF is prepared to defend Australia and its immediate region, and has the capacity to contribute to securing the Indo-Pacific and help maintain the global rules-based order if called upon.