Australia has 'done what was asked' on Iran, Albanese tells Trump

2026-03-21 - 15:30

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pushed back against suggestions that Canberra is not doing enough in the Middle East, asserting that Australia has fulfilled every request made by its allies amid the escalating Iran conflict. Speaking to reporters, Albanese responded to comments from US President Donald Trump, who told Sky News Australia on Friday that he was “very surprised” over Australia’s actions and said Canberra “should get involved.” The Australian prime minister emphasized that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open remains “critical” and called on Iran to “stop its attacks,” while defending his government’s contributions to regional security. Defense Minister Richard Marles provided further clarification, stating that Washington had requested Australian support in defending Gulf states. He noted that Australia deployed an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the region “in response to a request from the United Arab Emirates,” which he said “very much supports the defensive efforts that the United States was seeking.” Marles also confirmed that Canberra had not received a request from Washington regarding a warship deployment specifically for the Strait of Hormuz. The exchange highlights differing expectations between the two allies regarding Australia’s role in the widening conflict. Trump had expressed disappointment, noting that the US “always say yes to them” when Australia requests support. However, Albanese and Marles insisted that Australia remains actively engaged in defending Gulf states and has acted on all requests received. Regional tensions have continued to escalate since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28, a campaign that has reportedly killed over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that normally handles approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day and roughly 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade.