The arrival of Anthony Albanese in the United States heralds a crucial few weeks of engagement for the prime minister with the world’s two biggest powers — and a test of his diplomatic mettle.
The prime minister will seek to make progress on a climate and clean energy pact and lobby members of Congress and Senate to push ahead legislation on the AUKUS defence agreement. And with the White House heavily burdened with a tinderbox Middle East and a protracted Ukraine war, Albanese’s visit will also serve as a reminder to Joe Biden of the major role it still has to play in our neck of the woods.
“It's very important that we remain focused on the Indo-Pacific region,” Albanese said in Canberra on Sunday, before his departure. “This is the fastest-growing region of the world, in human history. We do have strategic competition in this region.”
It’s a difficult balance to strike. Albanese also confirmed he would travel to China to meet with Xi Jinping in early November, barely a week after returning from the US.
