Australia Rejects US Request to Join Red Sea Naval Operation
- Canberra will instead send six additional ADF personnel
- US bringing together allies to protect against Houthi strikes
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Australia has rejected a US request for a warship to help protect international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, with Defense Minister Richard Marles saying the nation’s strategic focus had to remain on the Indo-Pacific.
Marles, who is also deputy prime minister, told Sky News on Thursday that Australia wouldn’t be sending a “ship or a plane” to the Middle East, but would instead almost triple its troop contribution to the US-led maritime force.