Australia’s Albanese says he will focus on Aukus, Indo-Pacific security at Trump meeting

SYDNEY – Increasing the number of nuclear-powered submarines operated by Australia, Britain and the United States will make the Indo-Pacific more secure and is in the US’ interests, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on June 16.

Mr Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump for the first time on June 17 in Calgary on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting, with tariffs and Washington’s snap review of the Aukus treaty to transfer nuclear submarines to Australia weighing on the talks.

“Having Australia, the United Kingdom and the US all having increased nuclear-powered submarines, in our case conventionally armed, is something that will make the Indo-Pacific area more secure,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Calgary.

“That is in the interests of the US,” he added.

Mr Albanese said he will highlight to Mr Trump the financial support Australia is providing to the US industrial capacity to build new submarines under Aukus, the access that the US submarine fleet will gain to maintenance yards in Australia, and the existing US military presence in Australia’s northern city of Darwin.

Australia is a trusted US partner in the Pacific region to promote peace and security, he said.

Mr Albanese has rebuffed a US request to commit to lifting defence spending from 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, saying instead that Australia would spend what was needed for its defence capability.

Around 10 per cent of Australia’s steel and aluminium is exported to the US, and Mr Albanese said he would also raise the issue of Mr Trump’s tariffs on the sector, which Australia views as “acts of economic self-harm”.

“Exports are still going in there, they are just paying more for them,” he told reporters.

Mr Albanese met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on June 16, and said they had discussed Canada’s interest in joining Aukus’ so-called Pillar Two to develop advanced defence technology.

Australia wants to increase its defence relationships, including with Canada, which is a long-term ally with shared values, Mr Albanese said.

“In an uncertain world, what people are looking for is certainty, relationships, trusted relationships. Australia and Canada are just such partners,” he said.

Mr Albanese will also hold talks with the European Union on a proposed defence pact, and seek progress on EU free trade talks.

An annual poll by the Lowy Institute think-tank released on June 16 showed falling public sentiment in Australia towards the US, with 36 per cent of people surveyed saying they trust the US to act responsibly, a 20-point drop since 2024. The poll showed two-thirds of respondents supported Aukus. REUTERS