Anthony Albanese’s failure to get his much-anticipated assembly with US President Donald Trump just isn’t the prime minister’s fault, nor ought to it’s characterised as a “snub” by the president.
There was all the time a danger of derailment by outdoors occasions, notably when the scheduled get-together was late within the piece, somewhat than quickly after the president’s arrival in Canada for the G7.
Nonetheless, the result’s one thing of a debacle for Albanese.
The prime minister wants to fulfill the president. Urgent points – tariffs, AUKUS and defence – require dialogue at management stage. Fairly aside from having the 2 leaders, who’ve by no means met, establishing some private relationship.
It might have been particularly fascinating for the prime minister to convey, on the highest stage, Australia’s views on the significance of and progress on AUKUS, because the month-long US inquiry into the settlement begins. This inquiry, introduced final week, is inspecting whether or not the pact serves the US’ pursuits.
It’s additionally troublesome to see Australia with the ability to extract concessions on the US tariffs with out a dialogue between the leaders. Presumably one thing will be achieved in telephone calls between the 2. However they appear as uncommon as hen’s tooth.
The Albanese authorities’s spin is, irrespective of, there shall be an opportunity for a gathering when Albanese goes to the US in September to handle the United Nations leaders’ week. He could make a facet journey to Washington.
Maybe. However let’s wait to see the invitation to Washington. Many leaders are within the US at the moment, eager to get to the capital.
Anyway, it’s change into more and more clear Albanese just isn’t eager on going through the now-risky Oval Workplace ritual. Trump could also be in a nasty temper. The US journalists current might be feral.
If Albanese hopes the assembly can be in New York, that may be on the whim of Trump’s schedule.
Trying again, regardless of the counterarguments (that included the complication of an election marketing campaign), the prime minister ought to have tried very arduous to get to Trump earlier, together with braving the Oval Workplace.
This isn’t as a result of Australia ought to kowtow to the People, however as a result of any Australian prime minister ought to have interaction, as quickly as doable, with a brand new US administration, particularly when the president is as risky as this one.
When issues slip, as they’ve now, all of it turns into trickier to navigate.
These with good reminiscences would possibly recall this isn’t the primary time Albanese has discovered himself sufferer of a presidential no-show. In 2023, then president Joe Biden was supposed to come back to Australia for the Quad, and handle the federal parliament.
Due to a impasse in negotiations over the US finances, the president didn’t make it. (Later he issued Albanese an invite for an official go to to Washington, seen as compensation. Not a precedent Albanese ought to depend on.) The Biden no-show was a giant inconvenience however no extra, given the very constructive relations between the Albanese authorities and that US administration.
Some in Labor would take into consideration the Trump challenge in home political phrases – that given Australians don’t like Trump, it’s not that essential whether or not there’s a assembly. However that form of strategy just isn’t in Australia’s nationwide pursuits.
Suzanne Plunkett/AP
An change on the joint information convention Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (who has a deal on tariffs) gave in Canada is instructive.
Query: On the AUKUS submarine settlement, is that also continuing?
Keir Starmer: Yep, we’re continuing with that. It’s a very essential deal to each of us. I believe the President is doing a evaluate. We did a evaluate once we got here into authorities, in order that makes good sense to me.
Donald Trump: We’re very long-time companions and allies and pals, and we’ve change into pals in a brief time frame. He’s barely extra liberal than I’m, to place it mildly.
Starmer: I stand barely on the left.
Trump: However for some motive, we get alongside.
Starmer: We make it work.
By some means, Albanese must discover a approach to “make it work”.
