Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with the President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Jr. ahead of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Delaware.
Leaders discussed the strength of the Australia-United States alliance and depth of cooperation across defence and security, economic ties and climate and clean energy.
Today’s meeting builds on the progress Australia and the United States have made over the past two years in turning our decades-long alliance to face the future.
Our two nations have long stood together in the cause of peace and stability. We have worked together for eight decades to promote freedom and prosperity around the world.
Now we are modernising our alliance to focus on new challenges and vital interests – including clean energy, critical minerals and addressing climate change.
And of course, the biggest single investment in Australia’s defence capability in our history – the AUKUS agreement.
Today, President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese discussed ongoing bilateral defence and security cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific. They reaffirmed their commitment to the AUKUS partnership and noted the ongoing and bipartisan support for AUKUS across the alliance. They welcomed the significant progress that has been made this year, including in building Australia’s capabilities to steward and operate its own fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.
Leaders discussed the strength of our economic ties, and the importance of working together to act on the global challenge of inflation and to address supply chain resilience.
Leaders noted the close engagement on climate and clean energy, underpinned by the Australia-United States Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact. Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden also discussed ongoing work-including under the Australia-United States Critical Minerals Taskforce – to support resilient, diverse critical minerals supply chains.
Leaders looked forward to a productive Quad Leaders’ Summit, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, focused on promoting stability and delivering practical outcomes for the Indo-Pacific.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“I thank President Biden for hosting the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Delaware.
“This is the 11th time President Biden and I have met as leaders, and it highlighted how productive and important our partnership has been during a time of unprecedented global economic and security challenges.
“We are facing our decades-long alliance to the future, strengthening our economic ties and investing in the security of our shared region.
“Australia and the United States continue to cooperate closely on climate and clean energy and remain committed to our shared goal of expanding and diversifying critical mineral supply chains.
“I look forward to meeting with my Quad partners to discuss important challenges facing the Indo-Pacific and strengthening the Quad’s cooperation.”
