Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has had a “warm and constructive” call with US President Donald Trump as he faces pressure to secure a face-to-face meeting.
Albanese revealed the conversation in a late-night post on X, but gave few details about the conversation — their fourth since Trump’s election.
“Tonight I had another warm and constructive conversation with President Donald Trump,” Albanese posted on X just before midnight on Thursday (AEST).
“We discussed our trade and economic relationship as well as areas for growth including critical minerals.
“We also discussed shared US-Australia security interests.”
Trump had not posted about his talks with Albanese by Friday morning (AEST).
The two had been expected to see each other in June on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Canada. But the meeting was cancelled when Trump returned to the US early because of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Albanese had previously spoken with Trump by phone three times, including a call during which Trump congratulated him on his thumping re-election.
Albanese heads to New York later this month for a UN General Assembly summit. However, there has been no confirmation of any meeting with Trump.
Australia is expected to join Britain, France, Canada and others in pushing for the recognition of a Palestinian state at the summit.
The call also comes amid concerted efforts by Australia to get relief from Trump’s tariffs regime, after he imposed a base line levy of 10 per cent on Australian goods imports to the US and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium.
At the same time, the US is reviewing the AUKUS trilateral security alliance, under which Australia is expected to spend $386 billion on nuclear powered attack submarines, to ensure it aligns with Trump’s “America first” agenda.
The US is pushing Australia to raise its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
The government spends 2.02 per cent, with a view to increasing that sum to 2.33 per cent of GDP by 2033/34.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles met US Vice President JD Vance in Washington DC last week.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said the call between the two leaders to expanded on ties between the allies.
“We have the lowest trade tariffs of any country in the world when it comes to the US, but no doubt, this builds on what is already a warm relationship between the two of them,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program on Friday.
“As the Prime Minister has indicated, they’ll meet when it’s convenient for both parties.
“Clearly, there’s a connection there with four phone calls.”
But Liberal senator Jane Hume said more work was needed to secure a face-to-face meeting with Trump.
“It’s been 300 days now since President Trump has was elected, and still no meeting between our leaders, and that’s a concern,” she told Seven.
“We want Anthony Albanese to step up and represent Team Australia with President Trump, and particularly to secure our AUKUS agreements.”
-with AAP
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