Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make his first official trip to the United States since winning the election last year in late October.
Australian PM official US visit: During the four-day visit from October 23 to 26, the leaders will hold discussions on a variety of subjects, including the AUKUS security agreement, climate change, and essential minerals.
“My visit is an important opportunity to discuss our ambitious climate and clean energy transition, and our shared goal of a strong, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Albanese said in a statement.
The trip takes place at a time when shared fears about China’s ascent are bringing the long-standing security allies closer together, most notably with the AUKUS deal, which will see Australia purchase a number of US submarines of the Virginia class and contribute billions to the expansion of American shipyards.
Due to the ongoing debt ceiling talks in Washington, Biden cancelled his scheduled May trip to Sydney for a gathering of the Quad, an informal regional group made up of Australia, India, Japan, and the US.
Instead, the four presidents got together in May at the G7 conference in Hiroshima.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the White House stated that the visit demonstrated both countries’ dedication to an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Albanese has received an invitation to visit Beijing as well, but he has not yet determined his travel plans.