Strait of Hormuz: “But you said you can handle it alone” — Australia responds to Trump criticism

Australia has pushed back after President Donald Trump criticised its role in Middle East security operations linked to the Strait of Hormuz, raising questions over allied military coordination.

Trump, speaking in Washington after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, said Australia had not contributed to efforts aimed at supporting stability around the strategic waterway. He expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of Australian involvement when support was needed.

“I am not satisfied with Australia because they were not present when we required their support,” he told reporters, adding that he remained dissatisfied with Canberra’s level of engagement on the issue.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the criticism, saying Australia had not received any new request from the United States for additional military assistance in the region.

He said the situation had not changed and pointed to earlier remarks from Trump suggesting the matter was already being managed without further external support.

“There have been no new requests whatsoever,” Albanese said on Friday. “In fact, President Trump himself has indicated that he has this situation under control, and he has made that position clear. There has been no change.”

Albanese added that Australia’s position is to cooperate with the United States where formal requests are made, stressing that engagement is handled through established diplomatic and defence channels.

He also noted that Australia had previously deployed an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the Middle East following a request from Gulf partners to help strengthen defences against missile threats.