Australia defends role in Iran conflict after Trump says response “not great”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that Canberra has not declined any requests from Donald Trump for assistance in the US-Israeli war against Iran in the Middle East, pushing back against criticism from Washington.

His remarks followed comments by Trump during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, March 26, where the US president expressed dissatisfaction with Australia’s stance. “Australia was not great. I was a little surprised by Australia,” Trump said.

Australia earlier deployed a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the region at the request of the United Arab Emirates, aimed at helping counter missile strikes from Iran.

However, when Trump called on allies to contribute to efforts to secure tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Canberra initially declined to participate, noting in part that it had not received a direct request from Washington.

Subsequently, Australia joined a pledge by 22 countries to begin planning for a potential future mission to ensure safe passage for shipping, as oil prices climbed amid escalating tensions.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Albanese said he had “enjoyed a very constructive relationship” with Trump, while emphasising that Australia had responded positively to all formal requests. “There is no request being made to Australia that has not been agreed to,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted that neither the United States nor Israel had consulted allies ahead of launching strikes on Iran. “Australia wasn’t consulted before this action was undertaken, and I respect that that’s a matter for the United States,” Albanese said. “What Australia is responsible for… is Australia’s response.”

By Tamilla Hasanova