Operation Argos
| Operation Argos | |
|---|---|
 A RAAF AP-3C Orion at Kadena Air Force Base in October 2018 | |
| Location | North Asia |
| Objective | Enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea |
| Date | Periodically since 2018 |
| Executed by | Australian Defence Force |
Operation Argos is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the international effort to enforce United Nations' sanctions against North Korea. The operation began in 2018, and is ongoing.[1] The Australian effort is focused on detecting ship to ship transfers of contraband goods.[2] It involves periodic deployments of aircraft and warships.[3]
The international effort involves Australia, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is coordinated by the United States Seventh Fleet.[4]
Deployments
[edit]As of June 2024, there had been eleven deployments of Royal Australian Navy warships and twelve deployments of Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft to Operation Argos. Deployments have included:
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Japan in May 2018[5]
- Two RAAF AP-3C Orions to North Asia in September 2018[6]
- HMAS Melbourne in September 2018[7][8]
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in December 2018[7]
- HMAS Parramatta in late 2019[9]
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in February 2020[9]
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base in September 2020[10]
- HMAS Arunta in November 2020[2]
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base from late February to late March 2021[1][11]
- HMAS Ballarat in May 2021[2]
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base from August 2021[12]
- HMAS Warramunga in October 2021[13]
- HMAS Parramatta in mid-2022[14]
- HMAS Arunta in October 2022[15]
- A RAAF P-8 Poseidon to Kadena Air Base from February 2023[16]
- HMAS Anzac in mid-2023[17][18]
- A deployment of two P-8 Poseidons to Kadena Air Base that concluded in September 2023.[19]
- HMAS Toowoomba in November 2023.[20] Several Australian naval divers were slightly injured by sonar from a Chinese warship during this deployment, when the sonar was activated close to the Australian frigate while they were removing a fishing net from its propellers.[21]
- HMAS Hobart in April 2024.[22]
- HMAS Sydney in mid-late 2024.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Senator the Hon Marise Payne (24 February 2021). "Defence's continued commitment to Operation ARGOS". Media release. Department of Defence.
- ^ a b c Kadib, Charbel (18 May 2021). "HMAS Ballarat joins Operation Argos". Defence Connect. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Operation Argos – North East Asia". Department of Defence. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Robson, Seth (15 December 2020). "Fewer ships and aircraft are monitoring North Korea's illicit trade during the pandemic". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew (7 May 2018). "RAAF P-8A to monitor North Korean sanctions". ADBR. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew (13 September 2018). "RAAF AP-3C Orions to enforce North Korea sanctions". ADBR. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ a b Gady, Franz-Stefan (7 December 2018). "Australia Deploys P-8A Poseidon to Japan to Enforce North Korea Sanctions". The Diplomat.
- ^ McGuirk, Rod (12 October 2018). "Aussies order warship to enforce North Korea sanctions". Navy Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Defence confirms first commitment to Operation Argos for 2020". Defence Connect. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "Defence's continued commitment to Operation ARGOS - Australian Security Magazine". Australian Security Magazine. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Owen, Nathan; Geisler, Joel (30 June 2021). "Mission to enforce UN sanctions". Department of Defence.
- ^ "Australia deploys P-8A for Operation ARGOS". Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "Australia's continued commitment to sanctions enforcement against North Korea". Media release. Department of Defence. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Herring, Andrew (1 August 2022). "HMAS Parramatta receives warm welcome home". Department of Defence. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "HMAS Arunta to support sanctions on North Korea". Department of Defence. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Defence continues support to Operation Argos". Media release. Department of Defence. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "HMAS Anzac embarks on regional presence deployment". Media release. Department of Defence. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "HMAS Anzac enforces United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea". Department of Defence. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Defence joins international effort to enforce sanctions on North Korea". Department of Defence. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "HMAS Toowoomba supports sanctions on North Korea". Department of Defence. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Greene, Andrew (17 November 2023). "Australian naval personnel injured by sonar pulses from Chinese warship". ABC News. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew. "HMAS Hobart deploys to help enforce UN North Korea sanctions". PS News. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "HMAS Sydney departs for regional presence deployment". Department of Defence. Retrieved 22 June 2024.