Red Sea crisis: why the Albanese government said no to the United States’ warship request

Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak at the announcement of the Aukus pact in the US in March. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The Australian government’s decision to rebuff a US request to send a warship to the Red Sea has been greeted in some quarters as a seismic event, but it’s not really a bolt from the blue.

Australia is facing “an increasingly challenging strategic environment which is placing greater demand on ADF resources closer to home”, a senior Australian political figure said.