Prime Minister Anthony Albanese considers snap trip to NATO summit in bid to secure crucial meeting with Donald Trump
The possible Albanese-Trump encounter in the Netherlands at the end of June follows the abrupt cancellation of their scheduled talks at the G7 in Canada.
Mr Albanese has been scrambling to re-establish direct dialogue with the Trump administration on key issues, including the AUKUS defence pact and trade tariffs.
Mr Albanese confirmed the NATO trip was under active consideration after the US President left the G7 summit due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The sudden exit blindsided government officials, who were notified only when President Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, posted the news on social media.
'We're mature about the circumstances of what happened,' Mr Albanese told reporters after the G7 summit on Wednesday (Australian time).
'It's perfectly understandable. We'll reschedule a meeting — from time to time that is what occurs.'
Mr Albanese was asked whether he was 'considering going to NATO' for the possibility of a rescheduled meeting with President Trump.
'Look, I'm considering discussions with a range of people over the last couple of days… I met with the NATO secretary general yesterday,' he said in response.
'But I had discussions with others here as well.'
Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd had worked for months to secure the now-cancelled bilateral meeting with Mr Trump.
The missed opportunity sparked a flurry of criticism at home, with opposition figures and foreign policy commentators branding the development a failure of diplomacy.
'This is a complete humiliation for Albanese,' The Australian's Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan told Sky News on Tuesday.
'Trump has had multiple, multiple meetings with (UK and Canadian Prime Ministers) Starmer and Carney.
'But he'd rather have another meeting with them than have his first ever meeting with Albanese.'
'There's just no way you can get around this. This is a complete snub.'
In the absence of Mr Trump, Mr Albanese instead held two short meetings on the sidelines of the G7 with key members of the Trump administration.
He met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
'I had a meeting this morning with US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, which was a good opportunity to put forward Australia's position on tariffs,' Mr Albanese said.
'We also discussed how Australia can support the United States on critical minerals. Australia has endorsed the G7 Critical Minerals Office Action Plan.
'This opens up the prospect of further inspections of the Australian critical minerals and rare earths industry.'
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