Sky News can reveal Defence rejected a United States-led request to send troops or a naval ship to the Red Sea when Peter Dutton was Defence minister in 2022.
“I encourage you to participate in and support CTF 153, whether that be in the form of provision of CTF staff, force elements at sea or in the air, assuming Command at some point. I would be grateful if you would also consider allocating any units you may have transiting the Red Sea,” the Combined Maritime Forces said in their request.
The Australian Defence Force formally replied six weeks later and rejected the request.
ADF Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton responded with “given our considerable commitments, both domestic and in the Indo-Pacific, we are not able to increase our current contribution to Combined Maritime Forces.”
Sky News has put a detailed list of questions to the Defence Department and Peter Dutton’s office regarding the 2022 request and subsequent rejection.
A spokesman for Mr Dutton has told Sky News: “Mr Dutton’s Office requested copies of the correspondence in question – of which Mr Dutton wasn’t involved in or a party to, given the correspondence wasn’t addressed to him – however the request was denied.”
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