Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will join a virtual meeting of around 40 world leaders tonight to discuss how the Strait of Hormuz can be secured once the conflict in the region ends. The summit is being jointly chaired by the United Kingdom and France, though the United States will not attend.
The meeting comes amid rising diplomatic tension after US President Donald Trump criticised allies including Australia for refusing to join Washington’s naval blockade of Iran. Trump said he was “not happy” with Australia for “not being there” in helping enforce the blockade, which the US says is intended to allow non‑Iranian shipping through the vital waterway.
But both the UK and France have already ruled out joining the blockade, arguing that doing so would effectively mean entering the conflict with Iran. Instead, they have pointed to these multinational talks as the appropriate forum for planning long‑term security in the strait.
Australia has taken a similar position. Earlier this week, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Canberra would not join the blockade even if formally asked by the US. “Our position is that we are not party to this conflict, and we’ve got no intention to change that position,” he said.
Reuters has reported that China has been invited to the summit, though it remains unclear whether Beijing will participate.
Australia already has an E‑7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft deployed in the region, providing defensive support to the United Arab Emirates. Ahead of tonight’s meeting, Foreign Minister Penny Wong was asked what additional support Australia might consider but only once the conflict has ended.
As global leaders prepare to discuss post‑war security arrangements, the diplomatic divide over the US blockade continues to shape the international response to the crisis.
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