Overview

• President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held bilateral talks at the White House on October 20.
• The leaders discussed the supply chain for rare-earth elements that underpin advanced technologies and defense production.
• The Trump administration is conducting a review of the AUKUS plan to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, with completion targeted for this fall, and it could have been a topic in the meeting.
• Reports indicate Australia may consider using agreements on critical minerals as leverage in tariff-reduction discussions with the United States, though this has not been independently confirmed.
• U.S. messaging continues to urge partners such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea to increase defense spending to strengthen deterrence against China.