On 11 September it was announced that the guided missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney, has commenced service in Operation Argos, supporting international efforts to enforce United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea, as part of its Indo-Pacific regional presence deployment.
Australia supports UNSC sanctions through the deployment of Australian Defence Force maritime patrol aircraft and surface vessels. During Operation Argos, Sydney and its embarked MH-60R helicopter will monitor and deter illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods in the region.
Since 2018, Australia has deployed maritime patrol aircraft on 13 occasions and Navy vessels 12 times in support of the operation.
The Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones said, “Australia is committed to enforcing UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea until it takes concrete steps towards denuclearisation. Defence regularly deploys ADF assets on Operation Argos to monitor and deter shipments of sanctioned goods, alongside partners including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These deployments, as part of an international pressure campaign on North Korea to denuclearise, demonstrate Australia’s commitment to the global rules-based order.”
The Commanding Officer of Sydney, Commander Grant Coleman said: “I am pleased to bring the highly advanced sensors and capabilities of HMAS Sydney to this important surveillance and deterrence task in support of Argos….All members of Sydney’s crew are honoured to be making such important contributions to regional security, while representing Australia in the Indo-Pacific.”
Source: ADF
