Australia PM Albanese confident of Aukus support under ‘any future US administration’
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Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a meeting with US President Joe Biden that covered bilateral defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SYDNEY – Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sept 21 that he is confident the Aukus defence pact will be supported by any future US administration, after a meeting with President Joe Biden that covered bilateral defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Mr Biden is set to hand over the presidency after a Nov 5 election that will deliver the White House to his vice-president Kamala Harris, or Republican Donald Trump who has vowed a confrontational approach with China and voiced scepticism about traditional US alliances. The US is Australia's closest security ally.
"There is no question in my mind that Aukus will continue to have the support of any future US administration," Mr Albanese said in a televised media conference from the US city of Philadelphia.
Aukus, formed in 2021 by Australia, UK and US to address shared worries about China's growing power, is designed to allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines and other advanced weapons such as hypersonic missiles.
Mr Albanese is in the US for the Quad Leaders Summit, where the leaders are expected to speak about conflict between Beijing and its neighbours in the South China Sea, where they have repeatedly clashed over disputed territory, US officials told Reuters.
Mr Albanese's office said in a statement on Sept 21 that ahead of the summit in Delaware, he met Mr Biden and discussed bilateral cooperation across defence and security, including in the Indo-Pacific.
Mr Biden welcomed Mr Albanese at his home for the meeting, the first in a series of one-on-one meetings closed to the media.
The two leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to the Aukus partnership and noted the ongoing and bipartisan support for Aukus across the alliance," the statement from Mr Albanese's office said.
"They welcomed the significant progress that has been made this year, including in building Australia's capabilities to steward and operate its own fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s". REUTERS
