Aussie forces might be requested in Iran-Israel fight
Australia’s military could be asked to play a role in the Middle East as regional tensions escalate.
Anthony Albanese
Iran and Israel have targeted each other with missile and air strikes after the latter launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its long-time foe.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was continuing to monitor the situation and urged Australians in the region to leave.
Australia has not been drawn into the conflict, but Mr Albanese said the nation could be asked to participate in the future.
“It’s obviously a very volatile situation,” he told reporters in Seattle on Saturday, local time.
“We expect there could be a request for Australia to play a military role.”
The US was notified about the Israeli strikes in advance but Washington officials have been quick to point out it played no part in the attacks, warning Iran not to target its personnel or interests.
Mr Albanese landed in the US on his way to the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday.
He is expected to meet with a range of global leaders, including US president Donald Trump, who has been working with Iran on a nuclear deal.
Tariff discussions are expected to take the spotlight but defence talks could also feature after the US urged Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
Australia is already forecast to grow military spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP and Mr Albanese insisted his government would give “whatever capability Australia needs to defend our national interest”.
AAP
It’s a method of avoiding the issues and refusal to acknowledge that Israel is doing the world a favour. Watching the last performance of -Penny Wong, made me feel positively ill.
What on earth is Albanese babbling about? Australian forces may be called upon to play a military role? Are they going to be providing military assistance to Iran? It certainly would not be helping Israel given his current policies. Is he hallucinating about a UN peacekeeping role? How exactly is that likely to happen?
Political hot air of this sort demonstrates just how out of touch many politicians remain.