Prime minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will deploy military aircraft, air-to-air missiles and defence personnel to the United Arab Emirates as tensions escalate across the Middle East.
The deployment follows a request from UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussions between Albanese and Donald Trump about regional security.
Australia will send a Boeing E‑7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft along with stocks of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles. About 85 members of the Australian Defence Force will deploy to support the mission.
Albanese said the deployment was intended to help defend civilians and Australians living in the region as Iran’s military actions expand across multiple countries.
“My government has been clear that we’re not taking offensive action against Iran,” the prime minister said.
“We are not deploying Australian troops on the ground in Iran.”
Defensive deployment
The Wedgetail aircraft will provide long-range radar surveillance and airborne command capabilities designed to help monitor airspace and coordinate defensive operations.
Albanese said the mission would initially run for four weeks and would operate under the principle of collective self-defence.
“Deployed ADF assets will operate according to the right of collective self-defence,” he said.
The government said the deployment was aimed at helping protect international airspace and shipping routes while supporting regional partners facing missile and drone threats.
Australians in the region
Australia is also continuing efforts to evacuate citizens from the Middle East as the conflict escalates.
Foreign minister Penny Wong said about 2,700 Australians have already returned home using commercial flights.
More than 115,000 Australians remain in the Middle East, including about 24,000 in the UAE.
Wong urged Australians still in the region to leave if possible while commercial flights remain available.
“We encourage those who do wish to leave to do so now, while commercial flights are still available,” she said.
Political reaction
The government’s move received mixed responses from Australian political parties.
Greens leader Larissa Waters warned the deployment risked drawing Australia deeper into the conflict.
“The government should listen to the overwhelming majority of Australians who do not want to be dragged into Trump and Netanyahu’s latest forever war,” she said.
However opposition leader Angus Taylor backed the decision, arguing Australia should support allies responding to Iranian actions in the region.
Defence minister Richard Marles said the Wedgetail aircraft was among the world’s most advanced airborne surveillance and command platforms.
The aircraft has previously been deployed overseas, including supporting NATO operations linked to the war in Ukraine.
