Trump Leaves G7 Early, Disrupts Albanese Meeting

At the G7 summit in Canada, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought to strengthen alliances amid heightened Middle East tensions and global uncertainty. His anticipated first in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump was disrupted after Trump left the summit early to respond to the Israel-Iran conflict, though Albanese remains focused on advocating for Australia's interests regarding the AUKUS submarine pact and US tariffs. Albanese has held bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, emphasizing the importance of economic and security partnerships. The ongoing US review of AUKUS and calls for increased Australian defense spending have raised the stakes for Albanese's diplomatic efforts. Despite the setback with Trump, officials expect further discussions may occur later in the year. Albanese's summit approach reflects a strategy of diversifying Australia's alliances amid shifting traditional relationships.