Latest News

Australian Prime Minister Albanese talked to Trump about minerals and security.

In a telephone call with Donald Trump, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday evening discussed ways for Australia and United States to collaborate on vital minerals. This was confirmed by his office.

Albanese’s office released a statement saying that the two leaders discussed ways to collaborate on important minerals and trade "in both nations' interests".

It added that they also discussed the importance shared security interests. Albanese said on social media it was "a warm and constructive conversation." Albanese was reelected leader of the center-left Labor Government in a national election in May. He has yet to meet Trump after a scheduled meeting on the sidelines the G7 Summit in Canada in June, which Trump cancelled, was cancelled.

Albanese will travel to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The call transcript did not mention that Australian officials were trying to arrange a meeting between Trump and Albanese while Albanese was in the United States.

Richard Marles, the Deputy Prime Minster of Canada, visited Washington last week to meet with Vice President JDVance. He said on Monday that he was expecting a meeting between leaders "in a not too distant time."

Australia's largest trading partner is China, not the United States.

The Trump administration is pressing Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5% from the current 2%. At the same time, the Pentagon is reviewing the trilateral AUKUS partnership.

The United States, Australia and Britain announced details in 2023 of their plan to sell Australia U.S.-made nuclear-powered attack subs by the early 2030s and to build submarines later to counter China's Indo-Pacific ambitions.

Albanese stated in April that Australia would create a strategic reserve to separate itself from a Chinese-dominated market.

? (Reporting and editing by Timothy Heritage and Rod Nickel, Sydney)

(source: Reuters)