When it comes to the US-Australia relationship, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is keeping calm and carrying on.
Despite a recent tariff deadlock and a diplomatic snub from US President Donald Trump, Albanese says he’s “not worried” about the state of their alliance.
What’s Behind the Tension?
So, what’s going on? Well, President Trump recently cancelled a meeting with Albanese at the G7 summit and didn’t even bother to give him a call afterwards.
This move has raised eyebrows, especially since Trump made time to speak with other world leaders.
To make matters worse, Australia is still waiting for an exemption from Trump’s 10% tariff on all goods exported to the US.
It’s not looking good, with Albanese admitting that a tariff exemption is unlikely.
No Tariff Exemption in Sight
Albanese has been trying to negotiate with Trump, but it’s tough when the US President is a fan of protectionism.
In fact, Trump has said that “tariff” is his favorite word in the English language! Albanese, on the other hand, isn’t a fan of tariffs and has a very different view.
He’s been raising the issue with senior US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, but so far, no luck.
AUKUS Submarine Pact: Will Trump Pull the Plug?
There are also concerns that Trump might “pull the rug” on the $368 billion AUKUS submarine pact.
The US Department of Defence has announced a review of the alliance to ensure it fits with an “America First” agenda. But Albanese is confident that the pact is a good deal for both Australia and the US.
He points out that Australia is already contributing to the US industrial capacity, and Trump has never said anything negative about AUKUS.
A Delayed Response to US Strikes on Iran
Recently, the US launched strikes against Iran, and both Australia and the UK responded with somewhat ambiguous statements.
Albanese took 24 hours to offer support, which sparked criticism from opposition figures in Australia. The UK Labour government also faced backlash for not supporting the US military action outright.
Is Kevin Rudd to Blame for the Frosty Relationship?
There’s been speculation that former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who’s now the Australian ambassador to Washington, is contributing to the frosty personal ties between Albanese and Trump.
Rudd has previously called Trump a “traitor to the West” and a “village idiot”, which might not have gone down well with the US President. However, Albanese has dismissed this speculation, saying that Rudd is doing a great job and has his full support.
Optimism for the Future
Despite all the drama, Albanese remains optimistic about the US-Australia relationship. He’s expecting a face-to-face meeting with Trump by the end of the year, possibly at the UN General Assembly in New York.
In the meantime, he’s urging political commentators to “talk Australia up” and show support for the government.
With a bit of luck and some hard work, the US-Australia alliance might just come out stronger than ever.