PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese has deflected concerns about the future of US-Australia relations under a second Trump presidency.
Mr Albanese has arrived in the US for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit to be held on September 21 in Wilmington, Delaware, where he will be joined by outgoing US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
At a press conference in Philadelphia, he was asked about the impact that a possible second Trump presidency would have on regional stability.
“What I’m very confident of is that our relations with our friends here in the US is a relationship between nations based upon our common values that we have and that it is not just a relationship between individuals,” he said.
“No. This is a relationship between our two great nations that was forged during World War Two.”
Mr Albanese pointed out that a week ago, in Perth, he was aboard a nuclear-powered US submarine which “just shows how close the relationship is and will continue to be”.
He also said China would be on the agenda for the meeting.
“With regard to China, my position is very clear; we will co-operate when we can, we will disagree where we must, but we’ll engage in our national interest,” he said.
“… that doesn’t mean there aren’t differences there. There are. We (will) discuss them in appropriate forums and we discuss them very directly.”
On Mr Modi, Mr Albanese said he would raise the issue of Indian spying on Australian soil privately as well as the pending comprehensive economic partnership.
He described President Biden as a great friend of Australia but has no intention of visiting Donald Trump.
“I’m meeting the President of the United States, Joe Biden. I’ll be meeting President Biden and meeting Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Modi. That’s the purpose of my visit here,” he said.
“I’m coming here just for the Quad. I have been to the overseas meetings that I have to go to,” he said.
