"A vital U.S.-led mission to protect cargo shipping in the Red Sea has been met with offers of warships and aircraft from across the international community desperate to work together to keep the key trade artery free of terrorist interference.
Australia’s left-wing Labor government announced Wednesday it will reject the direct request from its key U.S. ally for naval forces.
Instead it is sending 11 land-based military personnel sometime in the New Year.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said Australia needs to keep focused on the Pacific region as the reason for declining to join the rest of the world in the vital Red Sea efforts.
Canberra’s new isolationist stance has been 10-days in the making."
