Great News Anthony Albanese arrives in Washington for state...

Great News

Anthony Albanese arrives in Washington for state visit

ByDavid Crowe

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has landed in Washington DC for a state visit to meet United States President Joe Biden and clear obstacles to the AUKUS alliance.

Albanese landed in the US capital on Sunday night (local time), and was met by the Australian ambassador to the US, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, on arrival.

He flew from Sydney aboard a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30 transport aircraft.

Albanese will meet Australian business chiefs in Washington DC to discuss investment and security, although none of the chief executives were with him on the government VIP flight.

Jodie Haydon and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrive in the US for a state visit.CREDIT:ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN

Some details remain under wraps, such as the names of the Australian and US leaders who will attend a state dinner being held in the prime minister’s honour at the White House on Wednesday night.

What is known so far is that the prime minister will discuss business investment ahead of an event at the Australian embassy, followed by days of meetings with political leaders.

The agenda for the state visit includes stronger cooperation on climate change, critical mineral supplies as well as the sharing of nuclear secrets for the AUKUS plan, which needs Congress to approve changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR, to allow the export of US knowledge and technology.

But the upheaval in the US capital, with the Republicans in disarray over who they choose as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, means there is no authority to approve an address to Congress and limited time for Albanese to meet top leaders.

The activities over the four-day visit will start with a focus on critical minerals and climate change to act on an agreement between Albanese and Biden at a meeting in Japan earlier this year to boost the supply of resources such as lithium, a key element of the batteries needed for renewable technology.

Resources Minister Madeleine King will join Albanese on the visit and will meet US counterparts and introduce them to Australian executives.

Albanese hinted in parliament last week that he would make announcements about critical minerals – a key topic for the US when it is worried about Chinese control of scarce supplies for technology products – and emphasised the importance of the US alliance.