Oct. 25 (UPI) — President Joe Biden welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the White House Wednesday for an official state visit as the leaders planned to announce more than $115 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians amid the Israel- Hamas war.
Biden and Albanese were planning to use the daylong discussions to reaffirm their partnership amid growing tensions in Southeast Asia, and to outline several new global initiatives that would serve to strengthen the alliance.
The talks come as the international community has been unsuccessful in deescalating the Middle East conflict after nearly three weeks without a ceasefire, with both leaders saying they were increasingly committed to protecting human rights in Gaza and the West Bank amid the hostilities and a simultaneous hostage crisis.
Previously, Biden and Albanese condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that ignited the war, while declaring Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
The talks were also set to focus on expanding U.S.-Australian cooperation on multiple diplomatic fronts, including climate crisis management, clean energy transition, supply chain innovation, technological research and development, space exploration, manufacturing, and the mining of rare Earth minerals.
As part of the plan, the Biden administration was planning to appoint an energy envoy who would serve as an intermediary between the United States and Australia in an effort to align climate and energy policies in both countries.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in private investments were driving a number of the initiatives featured on Wednesday’s agenda, including some that would promote new infrastructure, better telecommunications and digital connectivity, cybersecurity, private-sector partnerships, as well as a plan to safeguard technical data for future space missions.
Australia and United States were also working to accelerate clean energy supply chains throughout the Indo-Pacific, where Australia has invested more than $30 million to support new clean energy projects.
The leaders were also seeking to increase their support for the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for transparent investments that will promote employment and development in the region.
During the sit-down, the leaders would spell out “our shared priorities and vision … to build an alliance that reflects the depth and breadth of our relationship,” the White House said, adding that “the United States and Australia intend to partner in new ways.”
The meeting will be followed up by a fourth state dinner at the White House later in the evening.
A day earlier, the White House had canceled a state dinner performance by the B-52s due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
