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Australia Rejects Trump’s Call To Send Warship To Strait Of Hormuz.
The government of Australia has confirmed that it will not deploy a naval vessel to the Middle East to assist in securing the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, despite growing international concern over tensions affecting the global oil shipping route.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Australia’s Transport Minister, Catherine King, disclosed on Monday that the country has no plans to send a warship to the region. Speaking during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the minister stated that she was not aware of any formal request from the United States asking Australia to contribute naval forces for the mission.
King acknowledged the global importance of keeping the critical maritime corridor open to international shipping but maintained that Australia would not be participating in naval operations in the area.
Her remarks followed reports that the U.S. President, Donald Trump, had urged several countries, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, to deploy warships to help protect the vital waterway alongside American naval forces.
Trump had earlier indicated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that several nations affected by the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz were expected to contribute military assets to support efforts aimed at ensuring the passage remains open and secure for international shipping.
Meanwhile, developments in European Union circles suggest the bloc is considering potential naval options to address the situation. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, recently revealed that the bloc may either expand its existing Red Sea naval mission into the Persian Gulf or establish a coalition arrangement where member states contribute military capabilities to safeguard the strategic corridor.
Although Australia has ruled out sending a warship, the government recently announced that it would provide defensive assistance to the United Arab Emirates. The support includes the deployment of an air force surveillance aircraft and air-to-air missiles intended to help the Gulf nation defend itself against potential attacks linked to Iran.
Australian authorities clarified that the assistance is strictly defensive and does not involve any offensive military action against Iran.
The country’s position differs from that of the United Kingdom and France, both of which have expressed support for coordinated international efforts to safeguard the strategic shipping route, though officials from both nations have stressed the need for careful planning before any deployment.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, denied reports that Tehran had completely shut down the Strait of Hormuz. He explained that Iranian authorities had only restricted passage for vessels believed to have links with the United States and Israel.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most crucial maritime routes for global oil transportation, and disruptions in the passage have triggered a major energy crisis, pushing up energy and fertiliser prices across international markets.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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