US President Donald Trump has welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the White House, kicking off the first formal talks between the two leaders.
The prime minister went into the meeting hoping to gain assurances the United States would not sever ties with the AUKUS agreement, which would give Australia nuclear submarines.
The more than $300 billion trilateral agreement had been under review by the US Defense Department to ensure it aligned with the “America first” agenda of Mr Trump’s administration.
Mr Albanese was also looking to ensure Australia received a carve out from tariffs imposed by Mr Trump on goods entering the US.
Australian officials have been laying the groundwork for a potential critical minerals deal with the US, which was hoped to be used as leverage in any tariff negotiations.
The prime minister was also joined by Resources Minister Madeleine King and Industry Minister Tim Ayres during the visit to the US.
The White House meeting is the first time the leaders have held formal bilateral talks, and is the sixth time Mr Albanese has spoken with the US president since he was re-elected in November.
Four of those occasions have been over the phone, while the pair met in person for the first at a reception hosted by Mr Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
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