Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump: Leaders hop on phone call for fourth time to talk cooperation and trade

Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump held a “warm” phone call on Thursday night to discuss critical minerals and trade, but a face-to-face meeting has yet to be confirmed.

It comes as the Prime Minister has been under growing pressure for failing to secure a meeting with the US President amid concerns over the AUKUS submarine deal, his tariffs regime and rising global instability.

A readout from the leaders’ fourth phone call, released near midnight, had confirmed the leaders had discussed opportunities to work together in the interests of both nations.

“I had another warm and constructive conversation with President @realDonaldTrump,” the PM later posted on X.

“We discussed our trade and economic relationship as well as areas for growth including critical minerals. We also discussed shared US-Australia security interests.”

But there was no word on when the two leaders would hold their first face-to-face meeting, which Australia has been pursuing since Mr Trump was re-elected in November.

Labor frontbenchers Amanda Rishworth and Madeleine King both expressed confidence on Friday the pair would meet when it’s convenient.

“I have no doubt there were a lot of important things discussed. I think obviously, as the Prime Minister has indicated, they’ll meet when it’s convenient for both parties,” Ms Rishworth said.

“Of course, we have the lowest trade tariffs of any country in the world when it comes to the US, but no doubt, this builds on what is already a warm relationship between the two of them.”

The two were expected to have talks in June on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Canada but the meeting was cancelled after Mr Trump returned to the US early to deal with issues in the Middle East.

The call comes just weeks ahead of a United Nations general assembly meeting at which Australia is expected to join the UK, France, Canada and others in pushing for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

It would, however, mark a policy point of difference with the United States.

Ms King said Labor had presented a full-court press to US relations in the lead up to the phone call, with ministers engaging with their respective counterparts.

“I’ve no doubt that meeting will happen. There’s a lot of conversations going on, and they’re really very active and very engaged. It will be off the back of a number of close phone calls and other interactions with the US administration,” Ms King said.

It includes Defence Minister Richard Marles who late last month travelled to Washington to hold snap meetings with key US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Pentagon had initially denied a formal meeting between Mr Marles and his counterpart Secretary Hegseth but later clarified that the two did meet in person.

It had been hoped the visit laid the groundwork for Mr Albanese to meet with the US President.

While there was no confirmation that AUKUS was raised on Mr Albanese’s phone call despite the readout from the phone call mentioning that the leaders discussed “shared security interests”.

Speaking in Tokyo during a bilateral meeting with Penny Wong and their Japanese counterparts on Friday, Mr Marles raised fresh confidence in the tri-lateral AUKUS pact despite a Pentagon review.

“AUKUS is the subject of a trilateral treaty between Australia, the US and UK. It is moving ahead at a pace that is on schedule and we are really confident about its progress,” he said.

During Mr Marles’ meeting with Mr Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier this year, his counterpart urged him to raise Australia’s defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

The government is currently allocating 2.02 per cent of GDP to defence, with plans to increase it to 2.33 per cent by 2033/34.

Liberal Senator Jane Hume said while there’s no meeting locked in, the phone call was a step forward and the Coalition wanted Mr Albanese to secure the US alliance in Australia’s interest.

“Hopefully, we’re one step further towards a meeting,” Senator Hume said.

“It’s been 300 days now since President Trump was elected, and still no meeting between our leaders and that’s a concern.

“We want Anthony Albanese to step up and represent Team Australia with President Trump, and particularly to secure our AUKUS agreements.

“We know that the US is doing a review right now, and we also want to make sure that we’re protected from further tariffs.

“This is really important for us, economically, strategically and for our security.”

It also comes amid concerted efforts by Australia to get relief from Mr Trump’s tariffs regime, after he imposed a baseline levy of 10 per cent on Australian goods imports to the US and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium.

The Albanese Government has signalled its desire to prevent future tariffs, particularly affecting beef and pharmaceuticals.

Ms King, who is Australia’s resources minister, said it was important critical minerals were discussed as developing the industry would be a “tall order”. She stressed that Australia and the US must work together on rare earth supply chains.

“We really need to think about how we can best move into the future in our relationship with the US in developing these rarer supply chains, because it’s a really tall order to establish this industry,” she said.

Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd welcomed the leaders’ phone call, adding there was “lots going on” in the nations’ relationship and it was “going from strength to strength”.

The Prime Minister also virtually joined the Coalition of the Willing Leaders’ meeting convened in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Other leaders from Europe, New Zealand and Canada also joined.

The leaders discussed their continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, and the Coalition of the Willing’s commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Australia reiterated its intention to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal invasion and to work towards lasting peace on Ukraine’s terms.