Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed he will not meet with former US President Donald Trump during his upcoming official visit to the United States, despite the Republican candidate leading in election polls.
The decision comes as Mr Albanese prepares for significant diplomatic engagements in Washington DC next month, where he'll meet with President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss strengthening the AUKUS security partnership.
Deputy PM Takes Defence Portfolio to Pentagon
In a notable arrangement, Defence Minister Richard Marles will travel separately to Washington for crucial meetings at the Pentagon, while Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite remains in Australia. This division of responsibilities has raised eyebrows in political circles.
Mr Thistlethwaite defended the arrangement, stating "It's not unusual for a prime minister and a defence minister to travel separately to the same location". He emphasised that the focus remains on advancing Australia's national security interests through the AUKUS agreement.
Trump's Shadow Over US-Australia Relations
The absence of planned contact with Mr Trump is significant given his potential return to the White House. Political analysts suggest this reflects the Australian government's strategy to maintain clear alignment with the current Biden administration amid election uncertainty.
When questioned about potential engagement with the Trump campaign, Mr Thistlethwaite stated the government would "work with whoever the American people decide to elect", but confirmed no current plans for dialogue with Trump's team.
Focus on AUKUS and Regional Security
The upcoming trilateral meeting between Australia, the US, and Japan is expected to focus heavily on implementing the AUKUS nuclear submarine program and addressing growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
This diplomatic snub towards Trump underscores the delicate balancing act facing Australian leadership as they navigate potential political changes in their most important security ally while advancing critical defence partnerships.
