Albo locks in face to face with Trump at summit talks – as he prepares to deliver President a defiant message

Anthony Albanese has locked in his first face to face meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada as he prepares to stare down the US President on Australia’s defence spending. 

The prime minister on Sunday confirmed a meeting had been set for Tuesday local time when the leaders head to Kananaskis, Alberta and plans to stand his ground against US demands for Australia to increase our defence budget. 

He also plans to raise the impact of Trump’s trade tariffs on the Australian and US economies and push for an exemption, as well as the precarious future of the AUKUS nuclear submarines agreement, which is currently under review by the US government. 

‘Obviously, there are issues that the US president is dealing with at the moment,’ Mr Albanese told media in Seattle.

‘But I expect that we will be able to have a constructive engagement as well.

‘I look forward to building on the very constructive phone conversations that we’ve had on the three occasions that we’ve had the opportunity to talk.’

Mr Albanese said he would raise tariffs and emphasise the importance of AUKUS, Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine arrangement with the US and UK.

Both men have already spoken on three occasions but Tuesday’s arrangement is the first time they will meet in person.