Gaza, subs top of PM’s agenda after touching down in UK
Grace Crivellaro and Jacob Shteyman |
Anthony Albanese is preparing to school progressive leaders from around the globe in political success after touching down in London for the next leg of his three-country visit.
The prime minister arrived in London alongside fiancée Jodie Haydon on Friday morning (AEST), ahead of a conference of left-wing leaders.
Mr Albanese will receive a rockstar reception at the Global Progress Action Summit, a gathering of some of the world’s top progressive leaders and policy experts, after his historic election win in May.
He will join Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Iceland’s Kristrun Frostadottir and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose plummeting political favourability is in stark contrast with the ascendant Australian leader.
Mr Albanese arrives in the UK fresh from topping a Labor-dominated AFR Magazine Power List for another year, which included no members of the federal opposition for the first time in 25 years, revealing a command over the political landscape not seen since John Howard.
A contemporary of Mr Howard, former UK Labour prime minister Tony Blair, will meet with Mr Albanese ahead of the summit.
Gaza will likely be a key topic of discussion, with Mr Blair reportedly top of a list to head a temporary authority that would oversee Gaza as it transitions to Palestinian rule.
Mr Albanese announced Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week, where he delivered a wide-ranging debut speech before the global institution, renewing Australia’s push for a place on the UN Security Council.
During his five-day visit to the UN headquarters in New York, Mr Albanese called for world leaders to lead action on climate change, spruiked Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, and secured a long-awaited meeting with US President Donald Trump.
After months of speculation and pressure from US officials to raise defence spending, Mr Albanese will get an opportunity to have a face-to-face with Mr Trump on October 20, where he will press the importance of the AUKUS defence pact.
Under the multibillion-dollar security pact with the US and UK, Australia would gain nuclear-powered attack submarines by the early 2040s.
The US is reviewing the agreement, agreed under Joe Biden’s presidency, to ensure it aligns with Mr Trump’s “America First” agenda.
The AUKUS deal is likely to dominate discussions between Mr Starmer and Mr Albanese when the pair meet at 10 Downing St following the summit.
Back home, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said Australia and the UK had stepped up their engagement on strategic issues in recent years.
“We’ve really seen a very significant strategic dimension be applied to what is our oldest relationship, and that’s very much through AUKUS,” he told Sky News on Friday.
Mr Trump would also be a key topic of discussion between the pair, said Monash-Warwick Alliance international relations researcher Tom Howe.
“I think (Mr Albanese and Mr Starmer) will probably talk about some tactics on how to best manage Trump,” Mr Howe told AAP.
He said Australia had a lot riding on the UK, with the first British nuclear submarines scheduled to start rotating through a Perth naval base from 2027.
Mr Albanese is also due to meet King Charles III at Balmoral Castle, after the monarch stressed the importance of AUKUS during Mr Trump’s visit to the UK last week.
“Our AUKUS submarine partnership, with Australia, sets the benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration,” the King said at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, as Mr Trump, seated next to him, nodded.
Mr Albanese will also speak at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, underscoring his close relationship with the progressive movement in the UK.
The prime minister’s final stop before heading home will be in the United Arab Emirates, where he will meet President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
There, the pair will discuss the two countries’ free trade agreement, the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
AAP
