Prime Minister Tony Abbott says "at this stage" Australia is only preparing to be involved in a humanitarian mission to northern Iraq to help citizens fleeing the advance of Islamic State forces.
Mr Abbott is in London to hold security talks with the UK foreign and defence secretaries and receive briefings from top intelligence officials.
"This is a difficult and dangerous world and it's important that Australia stays in the closest possible touch with our friends and partners particularly with this developing situation in the Middle East," Mr Abbott told reporters at Whitehall.
Asked how far Canberra was prepared to go in Iraq, the prime minister said Australia was preparing to be involved in the humanitarian airdrop.
"We'll continue talking to our friends and partners about other issues, but at this stage I want to stress that this is very much a humanitarian mission to try to ensure that tens of thousands of people are not exposed to the murderous zealotry of the Islamic State," Mr Abbott said.
The United States says it will consider requests for help from a new Iraqi government, but is adamant it won't send in combat forces to deal with the threat of rampaging extremists.
Both Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel insist a political solution, not a military one, is the answer to Iraq's stability.
Mr Kerry flagged the US was prepared to consider additional political, economic and security options to help stabilise the security situation, expand economic development and strengthen Iraq's democratic institutions.
"We have always wanted an inclusive, participatory government that represents the interests of Shia, Kurd, Sunni minorities - all Iraqis," he said in Sydney after AUSMIN talks on Tuesday.
He also strongly backed President Barack Obama's stance there would be no return of US combat forces to Iraq.
Mr Abbott on Tuesday will initially meet with the chairman of the UK joint intelligence committee, John Day, in London.
He'll then receive a broader security briefing at Thames House before talking separately with foreign secretary Philip Hammond and defence secretary Michael Fallon.
Mr Abbott can't meet with his British counterpart David Cameron as he's currently on holiday.
The talks in London will focus on Iraq and how Australia can help deliver food, water and other supplies to those in need.
But it's expected Mr Abbott will also discuss the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and on-going economic sanctions against Russia.
The prime minister will fly back to Australia early on Wednesday morning, arriving home mid-morning on Thursday.
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