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Washington: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday night in what the Australian leader described as a “warm and constructive” call that canvassed both countries’ economic and security interests.
The call marked the fourth time the two leaders have spoken since Trump was re-elected last November, and comes ahead of a long-awaited potential meeting in person at this month’s United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, or in Washington.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have spoken on the phone in what the Prime Minister described as a “warm and constructive” call.Credit: Various
According to the Australian summary of the call, Albanese and Trump discussed economic co-operation and “opportunities to work together on trade and critical minerals in the interests of both nations”.
They also discussed “the strength of our relationship and the importance of our shared security interests”.
Albanese posted on social media minutes before midnight: “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.”
Neither Albanese nor the official readout mentioned whether the two men discussed the AUKUS submarine agreement, which is currently under review by the US Department of Defence, nor whether they made plans to meet in person. When asked, Albanese’s office said it had no further comment.
There was no readout from the call immediately available from the US side, but the White House has been contacted for comment. Trump was also due to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday morning, US time.
The Coalition and some media commentators have criticised Albanese for failing to arrange an in-person meeting with Trump since his return to power in January, noting the US president has met with other allies including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer multiple times, and with counterparts from the Indo-Pacific including the leaders of Japan, India and, as of last week, South Korea.
They were due to meet at the G7 summit in Canada in June, but Trump left the gathering early amid a brewing crisis in the Middle East.
Albanese and Trump are both due to attend the opening of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, though no formal meeting has been announced.
