The Defence Industry Minister says it’s appropriate for Australia’s military to draw up contingency plans to deploy troops to the Middle East but insists the Trump administration has not yet asked for assistance on its Gaza peace proposal.
During a visit to Washington, Pat Conroy was asked about revelations in The Nightly that Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations had begun discussions with American counterparts about possible options.
“No request has been made of Australia to make such a contribution, if a request is received, we would consider it in the normal course of action and the government would take a decision on that,” Mr Conroy told reporters.
“Our military as is appropriate talks to other militaries about contingency planning and that’s the normal course of action – but let me repeat – no request has been made, if a request is received, we’ll consider it and the government will make a decision.”
On Thursday Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones confirmed to The Nightly that he had recently held talks with senior military leaders in the United States about a so-called international stabilisation force for Gaza.
“I was in a video teleconference with United States Central Command and my colleagues and counterparts in that command so I’ve got a fair idea of what is their intention and what it might look like,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“It’s not for me to get ahead of the Australian government though; our job here in Joint Operations Command is to provide options to Government and that is what we’ll do, and it’s for Government to determine how they wish to commit to any operations in Gaza.”
Speaking from inside Headquarters Joint Operations Command outside Canberra, Vice Admiral Jones said any assistance was likely to be tactical.
“I would frame it as co-ordination and security, typical for a state in crisis so to speak,” he added.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/albanese-government-open-to-deploying-troops-to-support-president-trumps-gaza-peace-plan-c-20378013
