Trump urges Iran, Ali Khamenei to surrender, mulls US involvement in Iranian nuclear facility attacks; Tehran residents flee; Ali Shadmani killed; National Security Council meeting ends
On the G7’s final day, Anthony Albanese held formal bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and an informal discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron.
At the beginning of his discussion with Merz, the German Chancellor noted that negotiations between Australia and the EU had re-started recently after being put on hold in October 2023.
Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz meets with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
In a brief exchange between Albanese and Merz that was open to the media, the German leader asked “is there anything I can do to speed it up a little bit?” referring to the trade deal. Albanese replied: “We are very keen on getting it done quickly.”
In the meeting with the Japanese PM, Albanese highlighted the two countries’ increasingly close defence and economic ties.
“Both of our countries are strong supporters of free and fair trade … and that is something that has brought prosperity not just to our nation but to our region,” Albanese said.
Anthony Albanese meets with with Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Ishiba said they discussed the increasingly complex international outlook “and going to going forward together, I would like to make sure that a free and open in the Pacific will be realised”.
Later on Tuesday, local time, Albanese is due to hold a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, which is expected to be dominated by discussion of the AUKUS submarine deal.
A trilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa is expected to focus on the trade deal.
