A proposed face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to have once again fallen through the cracks.
Pressure has been applied to Albanese to meet with the U.S. leader since his re-election, with the recent U.N. General Assembly in New York slated as an opportunity.
The Labor government leader has been called on to deal with the Trump administration’s tariffs on Australian exports to the United States, as well as gain clarity over the status of AUKUS and defence spending.
Another sticking point is likely the Australian government’s decision to recognise the Palestinian state, which White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called a “reward to Hamas,” on Sept. 22.
However, the Trump administration has maintained that move by Australia, Canada, the UK, and France to recognise Palestine are more symbolic gestures than actual policies.
“He believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies,” Leavitt told reporters.
Meanwhile, Trump will host a reception at the White House, which Albanese is likely to attend.
Both leaders are also expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and ASEAN summits in October.
Meanwhile, Trump is expected to address the U.N. on Sept. 24.
Trump will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Sept. 25, with meetings also planned with leaders from Ukraine, Argentina, and the European Union.
He will also spend time in a group meeting with representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
