Australia resists US pressure to boost efforts against IS

Published January 14, 2016

Australia says it is among 40 countries urged by the United States to increase their military contribution in Iraq and Syria following the Paris attacks in November. But Australia has told the U.S. that its commitment would remain largely unchanged.

The news comes on Thursday as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull prepares to make his first visit to Washington as Australia's leader next week.

Defense Minister Marise Payne's office said in a statement that U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter had asked 40 countries "to consider expanded contributions" to the U.S.-led coalition fighting in the Middle East after the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

But Australia has offered no significant increase in resources.

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