Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has urged Israel to stop its attacks on Lebanon and expressed concern over its intensified military campaign against Beirut and the south of the country following a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Albanese also called on Hezbollah to end attacks on Israel, and reiterated his government’s belief that a Middle East ceasefire should also include Lebanon. The Prime Minister also confirmed that Australia’s military surveillance aircraft will remain in the region for at least a month after their initial deployment.
“We have made our position clear, which is that the conflict there must stop. Hezbollah must stop any attacks on Israel, and Israel must stop its attacks on Lebanon,” Albanese told Guardian Australia in an interview on the way home from an official visit to Singapore.
“Israel stepped up attacks after the ceasefire, including against heavily built-up areas.”
Israel launched its biggest attack on Lebanon since the war with Hezbollah began on Wednesday, killing at least 254 people and wounding 837, an attack that prompted Iranian officials to warn that Tehran could walk away from a ceasefire agreed with the US this week.
On Sunday, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it was “disappointing” that US and Iran peace talks have failed, adding that maintaining the ceasefire and keeping discussions open should be a priority. Wong said any escalation of the conflict would have “an even higher humanitarian cost and an even greater impact on the global economy”.
Returning from Singapore, where he and his counterpart there, Lawrence Wong, signed an agreement to continue the supply of fuel and liquefied natural gas between the two countries, Albanese spoke positively about “middle powers” seeking to create new areas of cooperation amid global geopolitical circumstances.
He called the meeting a “win-win” for both countries, with the leaders agreeing to a legally binding addendum to their free trade agreement on essential supplies such as energy.
“Countries that are not participants in the current conflict recognize the need to work together… This is part of the changing structure in the world and international relations, where middle powers and economies and countries are working together in mutual interest,” Albanese said.
He said he has seen “similarities” in recent engagements with Canada, including its Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Australia and the finalization of a free trade agreement with the European Union.
There is increasing attention to the concept of “middle powers” amid global tensions caused by tensions between the United States, China, Russia, and other major powers; In Carney’s visit he referred to Australia and Canada as “strategic cousins”, and he warned “the global architecture is now being torn apart by persistent crises”.
Albanese will this week travel to Brunei and Malaysia, other major suppliers of urea for Australian fuel as well as fertiliser.
Lawrence Wong told Albanese on Thursday that Singapore would continue to supply refined fuel to Australia “as long as upstream supplies continue”. Albanese described that guarantee as “very positive”, adding that Wong was “very confident” that fuel supplies would not be disrupted.
“He was referring to the fact that we live in an uncertain world, and (in that context), people will always – if they’re being honest with people – put that caveat in,” Albanese said when asked by Guardian Australia about Wong’s comments on upstream supply.
“But he was very confident, because Singapore has been able to diversify where the inputs are coming from: from West Africa, from the US; that has made a difference.
“We live in uncertain times. One of the things I did – going back to my statement to the nation – was to say that we are at this point now.
“Today, the diesel stock has gone up by two days, fuel continues to come, nothing has arrived that was supposed to come. There has been an increase in demand which has led to some shortage in some areas, but we continue to have supply.”
Pointing to figures released on Saturday, Albanese said 57 fuel tankers were heading to Australia, and 4.1 billion liters of fuel was contracted to arrive over the next four weeks, more than at the government’s last update.
“It’s ongoing, but we’re also saying… that the world is a very unstable place,” he said.
Albanese reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the Middle East and his desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. On Thursday, he revealed that the mission of Australia’s Wedgetail surveillance aircraft – which had been deployed to the UAE for an initial four weeks – would be extended.
Albanese confirmed on Saturday that it would be deployed for an additional four weeks, but reiterated: “They are playing no role in the conflict other than protecting our allies.”
When asked why the deployment was extended, he said it was “just common sense” as the initial four weeks had ended. “(We’re) just putting contingencies in place.”
