UPDATE: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump engaged in a significant phone call Thursday night, describing the conversation as “warm and constructive.” This urgent dialogue comes just ahead of their potential in-person meeting at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month.
The call marked the fourth interaction between the two leaders since Trump’s return to power in November 2022 and highlighted crucial discussions on economic collaboration and security interests between Australia and the United States. Albanese emphasized the importance of working together on trade and critical minerals, which are vital for both nations’ economies.
Minutes before midnight, Albanese took to social media to share insights from the call, stating, “Tonight I had another warm and constructive conversation with President @realDonaldTrump. We discussed our trade and economic relationship as well as areas for growth including critical minerals. We also discussed shared US-Australia security interests.”
While the Australian summary of the call did not mention whether the leaders discussed the contentious AUKUS submarine agreement currently under review by the US Department of Defense, the conversation reflects a growing urgency for both nations to strengthen their ties.
Notably, no official readout from the US side was immediately available, and the White House has yet to comment. Trump was also scheduled to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday morning, indicating a busy diplomatic agenda.
Criticism has emerged from the Coalition and media commentators, arguing that Albanese has not arranged a face-to-face meeting with Trump since his re-election. In contrast, Trump has met with other global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and counterparts from the Indo-Pacific region, such as Japan, India, and South Korea.
The two leaders are expected to be at the UN General Assembly’s opening session in September 2023, but as of now, no formal meeting has been announced. This growing anticipation underscores the urgency for both leaders to address critical international issues together.
As the international community watches closely, the implications of this call could shape future US-Australian relations significantly. Observers will be eager to see if this leads to a tangible in-person meeting that can further solidify their partnership on pressing global matters.
