Australia backs UK-France led mission in Strait of Hormuz

Australia backs UK-France led mission in Strait of Hormuz Australian defence minister Richard Marles said Australia will join a multinational mission aimed at protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after holding talks with defence counterparts from more than 40 countries. Marles said the “independent and strictly defensive” mission would be led by the United Kingdom and France. Marles announced that Australia would contribute a Boeing E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the operation.