Australian Government Stays Firm on Decision to Deny US Request for Naval Vessel

The Australian government has backed its decision not to send a naval ship to the Red Sea amid attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis. This comes after the Labor government signed a joint statement condemning Houthi attacks against commercial vessels transiting the region on Jan. 4. In late December, news emerged that Australia had denied a request from the United States government to direct a warship to the Red Sea to protect vital trade routes from attacks by the rebels. On Jan. 8, Acting Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite was asked on whether the government would reconsider the decision, to which he replied, “the government has made a decision.”...