NATO leaders will gather in The Netherlands later this month, and Donald Trump is expected to attend. Following the cancellation of his scheduled meeting with Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked whether he might travel to The Hague.
“Yes, that’s being considered,” Albanese responded. Currently, Defence Minister Richard Marles is slated to attend the summit.
PM Unfazed by Cancelled Trump Meeting
Albanese confirmed he has not yet spoken directly with Trump after their meeting at the G7 was called off.
“I spoke with key advisers to the president,” he said, noting that Trump has been preoccupied with developments in Iran and Israel.
“It’s perfectly understandable the decision that he made,” Albanese said, adding that Trump also cancelled scheduled meetings with India’s Narendra Modi and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We’re mature about that. We understand the circumstances,” he added, confirming the meeting would be rescheduled, though no date has been set.
Engaging With Global Leaders at G7
At the G7, Albanese also held talks with leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“It’s a real opportunity for Australia to engage with a range of partners,” he said.
Tariffs and Critical Minerals on the Agenda
Albanese also met with Trump’s senior economic advisers, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
He described it as “a good opportunity” to reaffirm Australia’s position on tariffs, highlighting the ongoing benefits of the long-standing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Australia also endorsed the G7’s critical minerals action plan, which Albanese said could further expand Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths sector. “We also discussed how Australia can support the United States on critical minerals,” he added.
A Productive G7 Summit
Reflecting on the day’s events, Albanese described the G7 as “very productive,” thanking Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the invitation.
“As the world watches developments in the Middle East, it is our collective responsibility to work together to uphold and defend security and economic prosperity,” Albanese said, emphasizing the importance of cooperation among democratic nations.
