Both leaders are expected to discuss the fate of the submarine pact established under the Biden administration.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Oct. 20 welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the White House for their first formal meeting, where the two leaders signed a new rare earth agreement.
They were also expected to discuss the fate of the submarine pact established under the Biden administration.
Trump told reporters that they plan to accomplish “a lot” as he greeted the Australian leader outside the West Wing.
“We are discussing critical minerals and rare earths,” Trump said as he hosted Albanese and his delegation in the Cabinet Room.
He noted that the rare earths agreement was finalized in four to five months.
“We’re here to talk about trade, submarines, lots of other military equipment,” the president said. “They’re big orders of our great military equipment. We have the best equipment anywhere in the world, by far.”
Following their bilateral talks, the two leaders are scheduled to have lunch.
Albanese, 62, previously made a state visit to Washington in 2023 during the Biden administration.
One of the key topics on the agenda will be the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, called AUKUS, which was formed in 2021 under the Biden administration.
Under the agreement, Australia will buy three Virginia-class hunter submarines by the early 2030s, with an option to buy two more.
The pact will also deliver a new submarine class, called the SSN-AUKUS, with the United Kingdom to produce the first SSN-AUKUS to the Royal Navy in the 2030s, and Canberra to deliver the submarine built in Australia to the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s.
In June, the Pentagon said that it would review the trilateral deal to determine if it’s consistent with Trump’s current agenda.
The news quickly made headlines and sparked concern in Australia.
During the meeting, Albanese is expected to seek reassurance from Trump that he will uphold the agreement.
By Emel Akan and Travis Gillmore
