Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to travel to Washington DC on Sunday for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The visit comes nine months after Trump’s inauguration and follows the cancellation of a previously scheduled meeting at the G7 summit in Canada.
The trip will be brief, but Albanese’s agenda is extensive. The Labor government is seeking reassurances from the Trump administration on several critical issues, including trade, tariffs, defence, and the Aukus security pact.
Aukus, the trilateral defence agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, is expected to be a key topic of discussion. Albanese will likely press for continued US commitment to the pact, which involves the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
Trade and tariffs are also high on the agenda, as Australia seeks to avoid potential US protectionist measures that could affect its exports. The meeting provides an opportunity for both leaders to discuss economic cooperation and defence ties.
