The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied that the United States made any new request for assistance in the Strait of Hormuz following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the report, Trump earlier told reporters in
Washington that he was “not happy” with Australia, claiming it had not
responded when asked to assist in matters related to the strategically vital
waterway.
In response, Albanese said on Friday that there had been “no
new requests at all,” adding that Trump had indicated he was handling the
situation regarding Iran.
Australian officials previously confirmed that Washington
had requested assistance last month for the defense of Gulf states, prompting Canberra
to deploy an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and missiles to help protect
the United Arab Emirates.
The comments come amid broader tensions, as Trump has
publicly criticized several allied nations and the NATO alliance over what he
described as insufficient support for U.S. actions related to Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most
critical النفط transit routes, carrying a significant
share of global oil supplies. Ongoing tensions in the region have heightened
concerns about energy security and increased pressure on U.S. allies to
contribute to regional defense efforts.
