Overview
- President Donald Trump offered the brief endorsement outside the White House after last week’s call, which still has no official readout.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the pair have held four warm discussions and describes relations with the US president as respectful.
- No face-to-face meeting is confirmed after a planned G7 sideline session was canceled in June due to the Israel–Iran crisis, and a possible encounter during UN General Assembly travel later this month remains unconfirmed.
- US tariffs on Australian exports remain in place, including a 10% baseline levy and 50% duties on steel and aluminium, as Canberra continues to press for relief.
- A Pentagon review of the AUKUS submarine plan is underway, with analysts expecting the program to continue but potentially with a larger Australian financial contribution and renewed pressure on defence spending.