Part 4/7:
US-Australia Relations and the Trump Factor
A critical observation made was the lack of a direct meeting between Australian Prime Minister Albanese and then-President Donald Trump. McGarrian attributed this to Albanese’s desire to avoid a potentially humiliating Oval Office encounter, especially given unresolved issues like tariffs and the Orcus review.
Trump’s demand that allies spend 3.5% of GDP on defense—compared to Australia’s 2%—remains a sticking point. Albanese aims to negotiate a side meeting at upcoming international events, but full formal engagement may be delayed until the US’s defense spending demands are addressed.