Australian personnel have started military exercises in the Philippines alongside thousands of American troops, as the incoming Defence Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond heads to the United States for talks on AUKUS and the Middle East war.
During his first overseas trip since being announced in the top job, Admiral Hammond is also scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a $5000 per head event in Washington organised by former Liberal defence minister-turned-lobbyist Christopher Pyne.
Admiral Hammond’s visit will also coincide with Anzac Day and as the Albanese Government expresses frustration at the ongoing US-led war against Iran which has hampered oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday repeated the Government’s call for a “de-escalation” in the damaging conflict, and for the United States and Iran to reach a “negotiated outcome”.
“Of course, we’re calling for a de-escalation, along with the rest of the world and along with the United States, seeking a negotiated outcome. We want to see the straits open. We want to see oil flow, and we want to see relief for Australians at the bowser.”
Asked why Australia did not “front-foot it” by offering to join US military action, Senator Wong told Sky News “we’ve responded to the requests that have been made”.
“We’ve made very clear there has been no request from the United States for assistance in relation to the Strait of Hormuz. What there was, was a request for assistance of the defence of the Gulf countries”.
During his visit to the US this week, Admiral Hammond is expected to receive briefings from the Pentagon on the Iran war and will meet with Australian naval personnel stationed in Groton, Connecticut, dubbed the “submarine capital of the world”.
On Wednesday evening the Vice Admiral is slated as the keynote speaker for the annual Cosmos Club AUKUS dinner, inside one of Washington’s most prestigious private institutions.
The “exclusive” $950 per head dinner is part of the 5th Annual AUKUS Conference hosted by the Pyne & Partners lobbying firm, with tickets to the sold-out three-day conference costing $4950 each.
Former defence official Michael Shoebridge criticised the Navy chief’s appearance at the conference, suggesting it fails the so-called pub test and is a “bad start to a new job”.
“Are Australian taxpayers getting any of the $5000 per head event fees or is our new CDF starting their tenure by making money for a private business that lobbies our government and others?” “It’s not a detail. It’s about ethics, integrity - and taxpayer funded activities by senior public officials,” Mr Shoebridge, the director of Strategic Analysis Australia, wrote online.
Last week after being announced as Australia’s next Defence chief, Admiral Hammond declared the Navy he leads was “absolutely” capable of deploying to the Middle East despite the threat posed by Iranian drones and other weapons.
“We’ve got 10 surface combatants right now, eight of them are at sea today… Navy, is as ready as it ever has been. And they are fitted with one of the most advanced radars in the world, CEA Radar, and some of the most advanced missile and point defence systems in the world.”
Against the backdrop of the deepening Middle East conflict, thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises on Monday to Australia’s north.
Exercise Balikatan will feature live-fire drills in the north of the Philippines facing the Taiwan Strait, as well as a province off the disputed South China Sea, where its vessels and China have engaged in repeated confrontations.
The Japanese military, which is contributing 1400 personnel, will use a Type 88 cruise missile to sink a target ship off northern Paoay, Philippine exercise spokesman Colonel Dennis Hernandez said.
More than 17,000 soldiers, airmen and sailors are taking part in the 19-day Balikatan, or Shoulder to Shoulder, exercises – about the same number as last year’s edition – including a contingent of around 400 personnel from Australia.
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