Washington, United States:

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will obtain a lavish welcome from US President Joe Biden on the White Home this week, with talks about China and Ukraine on the menu.

The pomp-filled state go to comes as Washington seems to be to bolster its ties with longtime ally Australia as a part of a broader technique to counter Beijing within the Asia-Pacific area.

Albanese, who will probably be honored with a gala state dinner, is in the meantime searching for to maintain Biden centered on Australia’s neighborhood whereas the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine conflicts rage on the opposite aspect of the world.

“It is going to be an vital go to,” Albanese stated Sunday earlier than leaving. “The alliance between Australia and the USA is central to Australia’s international coverage.”

Albanese arrives on the White Home on Tuesday earlier than the official state go to takes place on Wednesday, that includes talks with Biden within the Oval Workplace and a joint press convention within the iconic Rose Backyard.

The state dinner on the South Garden of the White Home will reportedly embody a present by US new wave band the B-52s.

Large Australian and US flags have already been draped over a key constructing that types a part of the White Home complicated, whereas smaller pennants adorn lampposts alongside Pennsylvania Avenue.

Biden invited Albanese after the US president was pressured to cancel a scheduled go to to Australia in Could on the final minute and return to Washington to work on a deal to keep away from a catastrophic US default.

Washington has been boosting its ties with Australia lately, together with with the landmark AUKUS safety pact — which additionally entails Britain. 

– ‘Vital time’ –
Discussions on the pact are anticipated to be a outstanding characteristic of Albanese’s go to.

“It is crucial that we stay centered on the Indo Pacific area,” the Australian advised a information convention on Sunday, utilizing the allies’ time period for the Asia-Pacific area.

Whereas making an attempt to counter China, each nations are additionally making an attempt to stabilize relations with the world’s second greatest financial system.

Albanese introduced on the eve of the journey that he would go to China in early November for talks with President Xi Jinping. Biden in the meantime could meet Xi at a summit in San Francisco between November 11 and 17.

However Ukraine and the Center East are additionally set to return up, with each Washington and Canberra offering navy support for Kyiv’s combat in opposition to the Russian invasion. 

“We imagine that there is not any extra vital time than now to have this go to with the Australians,” White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre advised reporters on Monday.

She stated it was important to “exhibit our power and partnership… as we’re persevering with to see the invasion that continues in Ukraine.” 

The political chaos in Washington, the place the US Congress is paralyzed by feuding Republicans’ incapability to elect a brand new speaker, may also come up.

Albanese is because of go to Congress and stated he can be “very supportive” of the $106 billion safety bundle that Biden is asking lawmakers to move — which incorporates Ukraine funding and cash for the AUKUS pact. 

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)