PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has not ruled out sending more troops to Syria and Iraq to fight ISIL, saying the Government will assess any requests from the United States on its merit.
“We work very closely with our American ally and our other allies, including New Zealand,” the Prime Minister said in a press conference in Queenstown today.
“I should say that Australia already has one of the largest, if not the largest presence in the alliance against Daesh, other than the United States in foreign contributions,” Mr Turnbull said.
His comments come after Defence Minister Marise Payne has left open the possibility of Australia increasing its military commitment to the war on Islamic State.
Senator Payne also promised to consider any approach from the United States “on its merits,’’ following high-level talks at NATO headquarters in Brussels led by new US Defense Secretary James Mattis.
She said she was waiting to see what US President Donald Trump’s military advisers presented to him at the end of the 30-day period he had given them to formulate a plan to defeat the terror group Islamic State.
Asked if Australia would consider a formal or informal request from the US Government for a greater military commitment against Islamic State, Senator Payne replied: “We would consider any request on its merits and it would be a decision for Government.’’
“I should say that Australia already has one of the largest, if not the largest presence in the alliance against Daesh, other than the United States in foreign contributions,” Mr Turnbull said.
His comments come after Defence Minister Marise Payne has left open the possibility of Australia increasing its military commitment to the war on Islamic State.
Senator Payne also promised to consider any approach from the United States “on its merits,’’ following high-level talks at NATO headquarters in Brussels led by new US Defense Secretary James Mattis.
She said she was waiting to see what US President Donald Trump’s military advisers presented to him at the end of the 30-day period he had given them to formulate a plan to defeat the terror group Islamic State.
Asked if Australia would consider a formal or informal request from the US Government for a greater military commitment against Islamic State, Senator Payne replied: “We would consider any request on its merits and it would be a decision for Government.’’
The opening of the door to greater military involvement comes 13 months after Senator Payne and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull turned down a request from the former Obama Defense Secretary Ash Carter for greater military involvement.
Australia already has almost 1000 defence force troops involved in the US-led Coalition attacking IS targets in Iraq and Syria, including 300 soldiers in an advise and assist role in Iraq, and hundreds more flying Hornet fighter planes in bombing raids out of the Middle East. Australia also has refuelling and command aircraft are in the air above the two shattered countries.
Senator Payne yesterday became the first Australian minister to meet her counterpart from the new Trump administration, when she held private talks with Secretary Mattis on the sidelines of a counter-terrorism meeting at NATO, in the Belgium capital Brussels.
Australia already has almost 1000 defence force troops involved in the US-led Coalition attacking IS targets in Iraq and Syria, including 300 soldiers in an advise and assist role in Iraq, and hundreds more flying Hornet fighter planes in bombing raids out of the Middle East. Australia also has refuelling and command aircraft are in the air above the two shattered countries.
Senator Payne yesterday became the first Australian minister to meet her counterpart from the new Trump administration, when she held private talks with Secretary Mattis on the sidelines of a counter-terrorism meeting at NATO, in the Belgium capital Brussels.
She emerged from the meeting to reinforce Australia’s commitment to its alliance with the US, saying the meeting with Mr Mattis had been productive.
“Clearly we have a history and a range of shared interest that — military to military and more broadly — make this our closest and most important alliance relationship,’’ she said.
Senator Payne said Mr Mattis had made no request for Australia to boost its military commitment to the efforts to defeat so-called Islamic State.
“No he didn’t make any particular demands of Australia this afternoon, or of any other country for that matter,’’ she said.
“Clearly we have a history and a range of shared interest that — military to military and more broadly — make this our closest and most important alliance relationship,’’ she said.
Senator Payne said Mr Mattis had made no request for Australia to boost its military commitment to the efforts to defeat so-called Islamic State.
“No he didn’t make any particular demands of Australia this afternoon, or of any other country for that matter,’’ she said.
Mr Mattis was asked at an earlier press conference if he had asked any of the US allies to boost their military involvement in Iraq and Syria, and declined to answer.
“I don’t know, I think you’d have to ask that question of others to get a full answer. It’s just not one I’m comfortable answering on my own at this point,’’ he said.
“Right now I want to talk to the other allies. Right now I’m going to fly to the Middle East and I’m not comfortable answering it yet.
“Once we know what we have for a mutual appreciation of the situation then we will go further.’’
“I don’t know, I think you’d have to ask that question of others to get a full answer. It’s just not one I’m comfortable answering on my own at this point,’’ he said.
“Right now I want to talk to the other allies. Right now I’m going to fly to the Middle East and I’m not comfortable answering it yet.
“Once we know what we have for a mutual appreciation of the situation then we will go further.’’
Any likelihood of a greater military involvement by Australia would be politically controversial, with the Greens expected to demand Parliament debates the issue. Labor has supported the Coalition Government’s military decisions in Iraq and Syria and gives bilateral support on matters of national security and defence.
Earlier, Mr Mattis had vowed America would “accelerate’’ the fight against Islamic State, and told the group of defence ministers that he would “lay it out’’ for them in their closed-door meeting.
Senator Payne said the work already being done to retake ground from Islamic State, including the efforts to retake Mosul, had been a “pretty solid slog.’’
Asked whether “boots on the ground’’ – or ground troops — should be deployed by the US-led Coalition in Syria, Senator Payne said it was “part of the broad conjecture about the new plan that is to be delivered to President Trump.
“Not a matter which was raised in the room at all today,’’ she said.
Senator Payne said there was a clear mission ahead, which was to complete the retaking of western Mosul in Iraq from Islamic State.
Earlier, Mr Mattis had vowed America would “accelerate’’ the fight against Islamic State, and told the group of defence ministers that he would “lay it out’’ for them in their closed-door meeting.
Senator Payne said the work already being done to retake ground from Islamic State, including the efforts to retake Mosul, had been a “pretty solid slog.’’
Asked whether “boots on the ground’’ – or ground troops — should be deployed by the US-led Coalition in Syria, Senator Payne said it was “part of the broad conjecture about the new plan that is to be delivered to President Trump.
“Not a matter which was raised in the room at all today,’’ she said.
Senator Payne said there was a clear mission ahead, which was to complete the retaking of western Mosul in Iraq from Islamic State.
She downplayed an apparent threat from Mr Mattis, who warned the other 27 members of the NATO alliance that America might “moderate’’ its commitment to the organisation unless they boosted their spending to the agreed two per cent of gross domestic product.
Only five of those NATO countries, including the US and the UK, have met the commitment.
Mr Mattis, and earlier Mr Trump, sent a scare through NATO, which was formed as a buffer against Russian aggression, with the comments, which implied America might not automatically come to the aid of a NATO member.
Australia is not a NATO member but an “enhanced partner’’ and is on track to spend two per cent of GDP on defence by the 2020 financial year.
Asked if Mr Mattis was bluffing on the NATO relationship, Senator Payne replied: “I doubt that Secretary Mattis bluffs. I think the observations he made were very timely. And they were reinforced by the British Secretary for Defence Sir Michael Fallon as well. These are important undertakings and those sitting around the table need to step up to the plate.’’
Also yesterday, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said: “The defeat of ISIL is a global generational challenge that requires a global, generational response.’’
On Tuesday, General Raymond “Tony’’ Thomas, the commander of US Special Operations, told a military gathering that the US-led Coalition had so far killed more than 60,000 Islamic State fighters.
Only five of those NATO countries, including the US and the UK, have met the commitment.
Mr Mattis, and earlier Mr Trump, sent a scare through NATO, which was formed as a buffer against Russian aggression, with the comments, which implied America might not automatically come to the aid of a NATO member.
Australia is not a NATO member but an “enhanced partner’’ and is on track to spend two per cent of GDP on defence by the 2020 financial year.
Asked if Mr Mattis was bluffing on the NATO relationship, Senator Payne replied: “I doubt that Secretary Mattis bluffs. I think the observations he made were very timely. And they were reinforced by the British Secretary for Defence Sir Michael Fallon as well. These are important undertakings and those sitting around the table need to step up to the plate.’’
Also yesterday, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said: “The defeat of ISIL is a global generational challenge that requires a global, generational response.’’
On Tuesday, General Raymond “Tony’’ Thomas, the commander of US Special Operations, told a military gathering that the US-led Coalition had so far killed more than 60,000 Islamic State fighters.
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