Overview

• Anthony Albanese departs for New York to attend the UN General Assembly and a reception hosted by President Donald Trump, with no bilateral meeting announced.
• If the leaders cross paths, officials expect only a brief pull-aside at Tuesday’s reception rather than a formal sit-down.
• Australia plans to formally recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN conference on Monday during the prime minister’s visit.
• Securing in-principle US backing for AUKUS is a priority, following Australia’s A$12 billion commitment to upgrade a Perth shipyard for submarine maintenance.
• Canberra is advancing critical-minerals cooperation and will press trade concerns including US baseline tariffs and higher duties on steel and aluminium, as experts warn the relationship feels thin without a leaders’ meeting or a US ambassador in Canberra.