Diplomacy is better than a show of force to help stabilise security in the Middle East, the prime minister says amid calls for Australia to send a warship.
The federal government is mulling a US request to deploy a ship to the Red Sea to help secure international shipping lanes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who are enforcing a blockade they claim is in support of Palestine.
But Australia could contribute more effectively through diplomacy, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
