Anthony Albanese’s first sit-down with Donald Trump at the White House is unlikely to turn into “car-crash television” even as Australian and US policies diverge.
The prime minister has finally locked in a long-awaited face-to-face meeting with the US president in Washington on October 20.
But the prospect of an in-person meeting with the volatile billionaire has raised fears Mr Albanese could face an Oval Office spray from Mr Trump, similar to his infamous clash with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
ANU international relations senior lecturer Charles Miller said the meeting between the two leaders could range anywhere from “quite cordial to being car crash television”.
“It’s certainly possible that we could see Trump attack Albanese over a number of things, for example, recognising the state of Palestine … but I don’t think that he will,” he told AAP.
“They’ve built up a fairly good relationship so far and I can’t see any really particularly strong reasons why he would choose to try and pick a fight with Australia.”
Previously planned talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in June were cancelled due to the then-escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine has been labelled a “serious mistake” by senior US officials and marks a notable point of disagreement with Washington.
The US president overnight criticised countries that had recognised Palestine during a fiery speech at the United Nations, saying it was “a reward for these horrible atrocities” committed by Hamas in 2023 against Israelis.
Pointing to the blow-up earlier this year between the Trump administration and Ukraine’s president, Dr Miller said it was a demonstration the damage wasn’t “irreparable” as Mr Trump has since warmed to Mr Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s cause.
Criticism that delays in securing a meeting with Mr Trump was down to diplomatic incompetence by Mr Albanese was “overblown”, the expert added.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine was making it more difficult for the war in Gaza to be resolved.
“It’s a point of stress … it’s a point of strong disagreement, not mild,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
But Mr Huckabee said the disagreement didn’t mean the US would start breaking its relationships with nations.
“I’m sure that the US and Australia, and the US and other countries, will continue to work together on the things with which we agree,” he said.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley wrote to a group of US Republicans promising to reverse Labor’s position on Palestine if the coalition was elected to government.
Asked about Ms Ley’s promise, Mr Huckabee said it suggested not everyone in Australia agreed with the government.
“I’m comforted by that, because it does tell me that there are those who are looking at this from what’s best for not just the Middle East, but that’s really for a global resolve of a situation that is hurting many and helping no one,” he said.
Australia has been lobbying the US to lift tariffs, while it has also been seeking assurances on the future of its $368 billion nuclear submarine deal under the trilateral AUKUS partnership.
Nationals senate leader Bridget McKenzie urged Mr Albanese to push for a better deal from the US on trade, despite Australia being among the countries with the lowest tariff rate of 10 per cent.
“There is a lot to discuss,” she said.
“Let’s hope the meeting takes place and the prime minister can put our case forward to the president.”
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