Australia Monitoring Russian Naval Vessels

The Australian Defense Force said it is monitoring Russian naval vessels that are currently transiting through international waters to the north of Australia.

In accordance with international law, Defiance has been monitoring the Russian vessels. Defense regularly undertakes maritime surveillance patrols in the approaches to Australia. 

The movement of these vessels is entirely consistent with provisions under international law for military vessels to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters.

Russian naval vessels have previously been deployed in conjunction with major international summits, such as the APEC meeting in Singapore in 2009. A warship from Russia’s Pacific Fleet also accompanied former Russian President Medvedev’s visit to San Francisco in 2010.