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PM pressed on calling for end to US-Iran war
The Prime Minsiter has provided little detail about the two leaders’ discussions about the US-Iran war.
“We had an extensive update from the President and I appreciated his perspective. Some of that, you will understand, is classified. So I won’t be going into the level of detail,” he said.
“It’s up to the President to outline the US’s strategy when it comes to military. I expressed our view that we wanted to see an end to the conflict there.
But Mr Albanese said he told the President he wanted to see an end to the conflict.
“We did and continue to say that Iran shouldn’t be allowed to have nuclear weapons - that represents a huge risk for the region,” he said.
“We have seen with Iran’s behaviour during this war where they have not just engaged with the United States and Israel, but have launched attacked on a range of countries in the region, including the UAE.
“I was able to outline to the President as well Australia’s contribution, including the E7A aircraft and the other assistance that we have given to the UAE. It is having an impact on Australia and, indeed, on the global economy.”
Albanese says tariff concerns raised with Trump
Anthony Albanese says tariffs were on the agenda during his phone call with Donald Trump.
When asked if he had asked Mr Trump for Australia to be exempt from a 12.5 per cent tariff, the Prime Minister said “I did raise this issue.”
“I always put forward Australia’s national interest during these discussions, and the ask that I made of the President is that he consider full exemption or at the very least no increase which is there, we have been subject to the 12.5% tariff,” Mr Albanese said.
“I informed him about our record when it comes to dealing with issues such as modern slavery, the strengthening that we have put forward as well to look and hold companies accountable for the supply chain process as well.
“There has been $3.6 billion Australian investment in the US since we last met across a range of issues, including defence, critical minerals, rare earths, manufacturing - and I put the argument very much to the President as a friend of the United States, we would request that that be considered.
“So I put the case as strongly as I could. It was a constructive discussion about why Australia should get at least the best treatment.”
Overnight call included discussion on regional and global issues: PM
Anthony Albanese says the Middle East conflict, and global and regional issues were discussed with Donald Trump during a “productive, constructive, lengthy” overnight call.
“The President and I exchanged views on a number of global and regional issues, including the conflict in the Middle East and recent developments in the Pacific,” he told reporters on Friday.
“This included briefing the President on the recent alliances that we have established, the coming into force of the alliance with Papua New Guinea, the signing of the alliance with Fiji, and the other arrangements that we have made right across the Pacific and South-East Asia.
“We discussed the progress on pillar two of AUKUS where we have agreed our significant project focused on joint development of cutting-edge payloads and and enabling systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles.
“We were able to review progress of our agreement on critical minerals which is is making real progress under which we are delivering more than $3.5 billion worth of critical minerals projects.”
Albanese addresses media after ‘substantial’ phone call with Trump
Anthony Albanese is holding a press conference after speaking with Donald Trump on the phone overnight.
The news broke on 2GB on Friday morning, saying a White House official confirming the leaders spoke overnight Australian time.
The Prime Minsiter is now revealing details about what the two leaders discussed.
Say with us as we bring you the latest.
Albanese and Trump hold surprise phone call overnight
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have reportedly spoken by phone overnight, with the surprise conversation confirmed by a White House official.
The news broke on 2GB on Friday morning, saying a White House official confirming the leaders spoke overnight Australian time.
However, details of what was discussed remain unclear and there has been no official statement from the Australian Government or the White House about the contents of the call.
The conversation is believed to be the first phone call between the two leaders since March, following Mr Albanese’s meeting with Mr Trump in Washington in October last year.
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