Marawi: Bishop says she offered further assistance to Duterte in IS fight

Australia has offered to mirror its support role in Iraq and provide similar assistance and training for troops in the Philippines as they battle an Islamic State expansion in the country’s south.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop addresses media at Parliament House

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop addresses media at Parliament House in Canberra (AAP) Source: AAP

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she made the offer of additional assistance to the Philippines when she met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila earlier this month.

She said the Turnbull government would not be committing troops to engage in combat roles on the ground.

“We would be ready to support the Philippines in the same way we are supporting Iraq in advising, assisting and training,” Ms Bishop told reporters in Canberra.

“We've offered to assist in any way that might add to the likelihood of defeating this scourge in southern Philippines.”

Two Australian surveillance planes have already been assisting the Philippines military in Marawi.
The foreign minister said Mr Duterte has not yet responded to the offer or identified what support is required.

Australia joins a host of other nations offering support including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States over concerns about the presence of Islamic State militants in civilian parts of Marawi.

“The fact that ISIS now has a presence in southern Philippines is deeply concerning, not only for the Philippines but for the region,” she said.
“It's a very dangerous fight but Australia has already offered, and is supplying support to Philippines, and we stand ready to assist should they require more, as does the United States.”

Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the conflict shows the fight against terrorism is right here in our region.

“It is absolutely in our national interest and in the interest of regional security for this threat and this insurrection to be confronted and defeated," Ms Wong said on ABC Radio.

"Obviously Australia should continue to assist in the ways that the Philippines government wishes us to because it’s in our national interest to do so.”

Share
Published 29 August 2017 10:56am
Updated 29 August 2017 10:44pm
By Marija Zivic


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world