A specialist on international relations says Tony Abbott's pledge to support the United States in its efforts to deal with Syria marks a change in position since the federal election.
President Barack Obama and the Prime Minister elect have spoken on the phone and discussed ways to further strengthen the US-Australia alliance.
A statement from the White House says the discussion included Russia's proposal regarding Syria's chemical weapons and the stationing of two-and-a-half-thousand US Marines in Darwin.
The statement said the two leaders shared "grave concern" over charges that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons.
Deakin University's Scott Burchill says Mr Abbott is now offering greater support to the US since the phone conversation.
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He told Greg Dyett, Mr Abbott's pledge of strong diplomatic and political support is in keeping with the Australia-US alliance, but is an interesting change of position on Mr Abbott's part.
