The Greens say sending military support to Gulf countries would only serve Donald Trump’s interests in the escalating war with Iran, as international law experts warn assistance would mean Australia would legally be a party to the conflict.
Cabinet’s national security committee met on Monday to consider requests for Australia to provide aid to countries feeling most affected by the Tehran missile attack, sparked by bombings ordered by the president of the United States and Israel.
An announcement on possible support measures by the Australian defense forces was expected within days.
But while the Coalition has said any request must be “due consideration”, international law expert Donald Rothwell told Guardian Australia that assisting a Gulf state in its self-defence against Iran meant Australia would become a legal party to an “international armed conflict”.
“That applies regardless of the distinction Australia may make between engaging in ‘offensive behaviour’ and ‘defensive behaviour’,” the Australian National University professor said.
“Compare this to Ukraine, where Australia provided military aid such as Bushmasters and Abrams tanks to Ukraine, but never committed military personnel and is therefore not a party to the conflict.”
Greens defense spokesman David Shoebridge said Labor was “signing us up for another US forever war through deception and stealth”.
Sign Up: AU Breaking News Email
“We can protect Australians in the region without sending our military into this escalating conflict – many other countries are doing just that,” he said.
“There is no rational interest for Australia in sending troops to the Gulf, which is not an ally and has no strategic role in our defence.
“The only national interest served by the deployment of Australian troops to the Gulf is that of the United States, nothing could be clearer, regardless of the Labor Party’s smoke and mirrors.”
Labor has also been criticized for not doing enough, with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott accusing the government of being weak on war and not having enough “guts” to offer the US president the assistance of a decent ally.
“The current attempt to forever destroy the nuclear ambitions of the Iranian theocracy will make the world safer, fairer and better; however, the shameful and humiliating reality is that Australia is doing nothing practical to achieve this.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday night that families of Australian officials have been asked to leave the United Arab Emirates due to the growing conflict.
Around 1,800 Australians have returned from the United Arab Emirates and the Department of Foreign Affairs is warning Australians not to travel there.
Campaign group Australians for War Powers Reform said any decision to go to war should be debated in parliament, before troops are committed.
His spokesman, Peter Murphy, said trying to draw distinctions between offensive and defensive actions was “heartbreaking.”
“It makes us part of the conflict. Whatever way the Foreign Secretary defines the use of Australian military forces in this situation: we are in the situation, we are involved in this conflict.
“Unfortunately, it’s a slow mission situation. I can’t question the Foreign Secretary or anyone else in the government, but I think they are incredibly reluctant to go there. However, once again, the US alliance and Aukus himself are a force or pressure on Australia to agree.”
Three Australian submariners were aboard the US nuclear submarine that fired on and sank an Iranian frigate, the Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean last week, killing at least 87 people.
Two US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Pearce in Perth last Monday, having flown from the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to defense sources.
The two planes spent just over a day in Australia before taking flight again. Neither the Australian nor the US military has revealed the purpose of the stopover in Australia or what role the planes have played in the ongoing conflict. P-8As are primarily used for reconnaissance missions, but can carry and launch torpedoes.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Ted O’Brien said the opposition would support providing military assistance if it was in the national interest, but said if the country helped with defensive efforts it would “of course” be seen as participating in the conflict.
“We support what the United States and Israel are doing and therefore, if support is requested, as has been done, it should be given due consideration,” he said.
The Coalition has requested a briefing on the plans.
