Prime Minister Anthony Albanese salvaged key diplomatic engagements at the G7 summit in Canada after US President Donald Trump abruptly left early, cancelling their planned meeting.
Albanese, who had hoped to raise the AUKUS submarine deal and US tariffs on Australian goods with Trump, instead met with three senior US officials: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Joined by Ambassador Kevin Rudd, Albanese discussed trade, tariffs on Australian aluminium and iron ore, and Australia’s role as a critical minerals supplier.
For decades, the Alliance between Australia and the United States has underpinned our relationship.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 17, 2025
Our free-flowing trade and investment has supported American and Australian workers, businesses, and investors – making both our countries more prosperous.
I spoke with President… pic.twitter.com/Xzm855cP7E
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles sought to downplay the cancelled meeting, saying a face-to-face would still occur, noting “our relationship is conducted at so many levels.”
At the summit, Albanese embraced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reaffirmed Australia’s support for Ukraine, one of the largest non-NATO contributors of military aid including Abrams tanks.
Albanese also held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—who offered to help speed up stalled Australia-EU trade talks—Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and informally with French President Emmanuel Macron.
He is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and later attend a trilateral with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to continue trade discussions.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
