Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has landed in Washington, DC, ahead of his high-stakes first formal meeting with President Donald Trump.
The prime minister is due to touch down in Washington on Monday afternoon (AEDT) ahead of his first formal bilateral talks with the US president at the White House the following day.
Tariffs on Australian goods are set to feature highly in discussions, along with a potential deal on critical minerals and the fate of the AUKUS security pact.
The US Defence Department has been conducting a review of the more than $300 billion agreement to determine whether it aligns with the Trump administration’s ‘America First’ agenda.
Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said that despite the uncertainty surrounding the review, there is support within the administration for the trilateral agreement, which would give Australia nuclear submarines.
‘We’re very confident that AUKUS will be maintained,’ he told Sky News on Monday.
‘In the discussions that I’ve had with congressional representatives, both Republicans and Democrats, their strong commitment to AUKUS is continuing. That goes for the United Kingdom as well.
‘We can’t expect too much because they’ve got to complete that review, and that’s an ordinary course of their deliberations there, but we’re confident that AUKUS will be maintained.’
Anthony Albanese (pictured) has arrived in Washiongton
Albanese had spoken with Trump five times ahead of the bilateral talks, with the first in-person encounter a brief meeting at a UN reception in New York in September.
‘I look forward to a positive and constructive meeting with President Trump at the White House,’ Albanese said in a statement ahead of his departure from Australia.
‘Our meeting is an important opportunity to consolidate the Australia-United States relationship.’
Federal minister Amanda Rishworth said while she didn’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the talks with Trump, they were set to be productive.
‘No doubt there’ll be a number of opportunities to have discussions about how we deepen our ties as a country,’ she told ABC.
‘We are the closest of allies. We’ve got such a long history and shared goals around peace and security around the world.’
Albanese is also set to make the case for an exemption to tariffs imposed on Australian exports to the US.
While Australian goods have a 10 per cent baseline tariff applied, steel and aluminium products have suffered a 50 per cent tariff.
Albanese will make the case for Donald Trump (pictured) to drop the tariffs on Australian goods
Australian officials have been laying the groundwork for a potential critical minerals deal with the US, which is hoped could be used as leverage for a tariff exemption.
Resources Minister Madeleine King and Industry Minister Tim Ayres will join parts of the prime minister’s Washington trip, which is expected to focus on the critical minerals deal.
Former Australian ambassador to Washington Joe Hockey, who served during Donald Trump’s first term, warned that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must arrive in the Oval Office with more than symbolic gestures.
‘If Albanese turns up with baubles and trinkets, it won’t wash with Trump,’ Hockey told the ABC.
‘[Trump] wants tangible wins for Americans.’
Meanwhile Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has set out a list of ‘clear measures of success’ for Anthony Albanese’s trip to Washington, warning the Prime Minister must deliver ‘concrete outcomes’ on key national security and trade fronts.
In a letter sent last week, Ley said AUKUS and tariffs were among the ‘priority issues’ the Opposition expected progress on.
Ley also called for renewed commitment to the Quad partnership between Australia, the US, Japan and India, seen as a crucial counterbalance to China’s growing power.
It will be the first formal in-person meeting between the leaders since Trump took office
‘We cannot allow the Quad to fail.’
Ley also urged the government to fast-track the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance program, calling it ‘an urgent priority matched with urgent action.’
Despite her criticism, Ley wished Albanese well.
‘When it comes to the Prime Minister stepping into the Oval Office, there is only Team Australia.’ she said.
‘But this must be more than a photo opportunity; Australians are relying on the PM to deliver.’
