{"id":23168,"date":"2019-08-21T15:56:45","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T15:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/08\/21\/australia-joins-us-led-mission-to-protect-persian-gulf-shipping\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:09:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:09:38","slug":"australia-joins-us-led-mission-to-protect-persian-gulf-shipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/08\/21\/australia-joins-us-led-mission-to-protect-persian-gulf-shipping\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia joins US-led mission to protect Persian Gulf shipping"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CANBERRA, Australia\u2014 Australia has joined Britain and Bahrain in signing onto a U.S.-led maritime security mission to protect international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> amid tensions with Iran, the prime minister said Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia will contribute troops, a surveillance plane and a frigate to protect the shipping lanes from Iran, Prime Minister Scott Morrison <\/a>said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cmodest, meaningful and time-limited\u201d contribution was in Australia\u2019s national and economic interests, he said. At least 15 percent of crude oil and up to 30 percent of refined oil destined for Australia transits through the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British Defense Ministry announced this month that Royal Navy vessels will work alongside the U.S. Navy to escort vessels through the busy strait off Iran’s coast, which has become a flashpoint for tensions between Tehran and the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. has been asking its allies to take part in a naval mission to protect shipping in the strait, though other European nations have expressed reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\t