Anzac class frigate HMAS BALLARAT

is already assisting US efforts in the Middle East (including Persian Gulf oil protection). So the Australian Government will, in the next few days/weeks, be announcing Australian assistance that is already happening.

HMAS BALLARAT departed Australia in October 2018 for a nine month deployment to Operation MANITOU (Middle East Region). Then BALLARAT'S frigate or destroyer replacement will assist the US.

See the official Australian Defence Department website at http://www.defence.gov.au/Operations/OpManitou/

"Operation MANITOU is the current name for the Australian Government's contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region (MER). An enhanced security environment ensures Australia's safe and open access to the region while fostering trade and commerce"

Pete

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/us-threatens-to-pull-troops-from-germany-if-no-increase-in-nato-defense-spending/ar-AAFAJc6?ocid=spartanntp

That'll snowball ! Either we pull together or we're on our own. Just think of what's driving your car etc.

Academic idealism & runaway emotion has not yet proven effective in fighting stupidity, on the contrary !

Remember that none of the oil in the Gulf goes to the US. Currently
they export a small amount of crude.
Our oil comes from the Gulf and goes to refineries in Singapore and Korea.
Then after refined is loaded onto tankers and delivered to Australia
and New Zealand and also some Islands.
What I do not know is do we buy the crude in the Gulf and ship it to
the refineries and then ship it here, or do we buy refined products
from the refineries.
If the latter we would be in a bidding scramble at the refinery.
It really is a dangerous situation if anything goes wrong.

I wonder what the ratio is of fuel used for amusement vs fuel used for necessity !

AUSTRALIA TO ASSIST US AGAINST IRAN

Looking at the Operation MANITOU deployment schedule http://www.navy.gov.au/operations/manitou HMAS Toowoomba or HMAS Arunta may perhaps be the next frigate the Morrison Government will announce is helping the US against Iran in the Persian Gulf-Strait of Hormuz waters.

The next Australian Frigate (under Operation MANITOU) is yet to be announced to back up the US-multinational effort in Persian Gulf-Strait of Hormuz waters.

HMAS Ballarat has already returned to Australia after backing up US efforts in Middle East waters - including providing a secure enviroment for tankers, from the Persian Gulf to sail safely across the Indian Ocean

SOURCE:

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/hmas-ballarat-returns-home-middle-east

"HMAS Ballarat returns home from Middle East 14 July 2019."

The Ministers for Defence and Defence Industry "welcomed the return of...HMAS Ballarat to Australia, following a highly successful nine-month deployment as part of Operation MANITOU."

Pete