Overview
- Next month’s Beijing visit will mark Albanese’s fourth face-to-face encounter with Xi Jinping, underscoring deepening ties with China.
- Talks with Trump on the sidelines of last week’s G7 collapsed after he withdrew over the Middle East conflict, leaving future discussions unresolved.
- Albanese chose not to attend the NATO summit in the Netherlands, noting most Indo-Pacific Four leaders did not participate.
- Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles represented Australia at NATO and may seek to engage Trump in the prime minister’s stead.
- The upcoming Xi meeting comes at a pivotal moment as Australia navigates trade disputes and security partnerships with its key allies.