Russia is entitled to send warships to international waters near Australia, foreign minister Julie Bishop says.
Russia has dispatched four naval ships ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s arrival to the G20 summit.
Bishop says this is entirely consistent with international law.
“It’s not unexpected,” Ms Bishop told reporters in Sydney.
“Russia is entitled … to traverse international waters, so we have been aware of it for some time. We’ve been tracking it.”
When asked whether the expedition was a show of force, the foreign minister said Russia was simply doing what countries with big navies do.
“Russia is a significant country with a significant navy,” she said.
News of the arrival of the fleet comes after a highly anticipated exchange between Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Russian President Vladimir Putin at this week’s APEC summit in Beijing ahead of the G20.
Defence Force chief Mark Binskin has also downplayed the presence of the Russian ships.
Asked why Russia was sending four ships to the international summit instead of the usual one or two, Air Chief Marshal Binskin indicated they weren’t all warships.
Russia had publicised its intent to deploy a task force to the South Pacific a while ago, and an ocean-going tug and an oiler are part of that group.
“So it’s just one part of their operations. They’re in international waters. They’re allowed to do that. And we’ll continue to surveil them,” he said.
The news comes after a highly anticipated exchange between Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Russian President Vladimir Putin at this week’s APEC summit in Beijing ahead of the G20.
While “no harsh words” were exchanged during the 15-minute meeting, Russia rejected Abbott’s demand the Kremlin apologise for the downing of the passenger jet MH17 over Ukraine.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 298 people, including 38 Australian citizens and residents, and is believed to have been carried out by separatists using Russia equipment.
Asked if the ships were a show of force, Binskin said: “You’ll have to ask the Russians.”
It’s not the first time Russian naval vessels have been present while an international summit is on.
Russian warships were around for an APEC meeting in Singapore in 2009 as well as former Russian president Dimitri Medvedev’s visit to San Francisco in 2010.
Director of the National Security Institute at the University of Canberra, Peter Leahy, says while Russia is making a “more than a subtle demonstration of power”, it isn’t doing anything wrong and is probably just asserting its position as a maritime power with global interests in the area.
“I rather think it’s pre-planned and it’s more associated with the meeting in Brisbane rather than comments made by the prime minister,” he told ABC radio.
“I would be more concerned about what’s happening over in the Ukraine than what’s happening with three or four – including one tugboat – Russian vessels in our area.”
Defence is directing further questions regarding the vessels to Russian authorities.
The Russian embassy has been approached for comment.
