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Albanese comes away from Trump meeting with lots to show

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US President Donald Trump (right) met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre) at the White House on Oct 20.

PHOTO: EPA

Jonathan Pearlman and Lim Min Zhang

Summary

• Mr Albanese secured Mr Trumps support for AUKUS, ensuring Australia receives US nuclear-powered submarines despite US shipbuilding capacity concerns.
• A deal was cemented on critical minerals to reduce US reliance on China, with significant US investment planned in Australian mining.
• Chinas export controls on rare earths have put pressure on Mr Trump to find alternative suppliers.

AI generated

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s top priority at a much-anticipated first official meeting with US President Donald Trump on Oct 20 was to avoid a confrontation with the leader of Australia’s closest security ally.

But Mr Albanese – who Mr Trump said was doing a “fantastic job” – achieved much more at the meeting than attracting warm praise from the President.