Anthony Albanese is anticipating his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump next week, after a previous attempt in June was cancelled when the US president abruptly left the G7 summit. Documents obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information show the lengths Australian officials went to in securing a meeting between the two leaders in Canada.
The 103 pages of government communications reveal that the bilateral meeting was only confirmed on 13 June, five days before it was scheduled for 18 June. A text message on the Signal app to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) secretary Jan Adams read: 'some good news. Meeting now confirmed.' Another text said: 'really pleased with getting meeting confirmed.'
Despite the confirmation, Trump left the G7 on 17 June to attend to a conflict between Israel and Iran, cancelling meetings with Albanese and other world leaders. Australian officials then circulated talking points titled 'Australia’s reaction to President Trump cancelling his meeting with Prime Minister Albanese', stating they 'understand why President Trump felt it necessary to leave the G7 early due to global events.'
The documents also show uncertainty among Australian officials about locking in the meeting. On 12 June, a Dfat assistant secretary noted that the White House had agreed to a meeting but did not know when precisely it would occur. The next day, Jason Robertson, deputy head of Australia’s embassy in Washington, emailed senior officials that Trump’s travel to Canada was 'still on' and officials were 'still working on bilateral meetings.'
Nearly all correspondence was redacted under Freedom of Information Act exemptions for information 'communicated in confidence by or on behalf of a foreign government'. Unredacted texts and emails reveal the involvement of US ambassador Kevin Rudd, Dfat secretary Jan Adams, and senior diplomats. The prime minister last week claimed 'in the real world, no one cares' when he meets Trump, but the documents show a bevy of staff worked to secure the June bilateral.
