Defending Australia 2025 forum: Watch live as political, military and industry leaders discuss Trump, AUKUS, Iran and China
Welcome to News Corp's Defending Australia event for 2025, bringing together key leaders from major defence companies and government decision-makers to discuss our nation's defence future.
It comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, Australia's all-important $368bn AUKUS review remains under review by the Trump Administration and the threat from China's unprecedented military build-up intensifies.
Australia's response to space warfare, the next major emerging threat, will be examined by experts, along with the accelerating preparation for the Adelaide-based nuclear-powered submarine construction and scramble to boost both our national security capability and workforce.
Join us at the Great Hall in Parliament House from 10.30am AEST (10am central time).
Follow in the live blog below or watch the event LIVE via the stream above
Originally published as Defending Australia 2025 forum: Watch live as political, military and industry leaders discuss Trump, AUKUS, Iran and China
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SBS Australia
29 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
World leaders arrive in Canada for the G7 summit
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . As world leaders descend on Calgary, Canada, for the G7 summit, Israel's war with Iran will likely top the agenda. Donald Trump departed the U-S on Sunday - holding true to a message that's becoming familiar. "Well I hope there's gonna be a deal. Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we're gonna see what happens." The US President has travelled north to a country he's repeatedly said he wants to make part of the United States. His counterpart in the host nation, Canadian P-M Mark Carney, was helped to power by his defiant stance against US tariffs, and he's been looking to strengthen alliances in uncertain times. He welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese upon his arrival in Canada. "Welcome, and thank you for coming for the G7. Canada and Australia, of course, great partners that share the same values, share many of the same interests." Anthony Albanese says they discussed defence, critical minerals, and collaborating to combat bushfires, as well as conflict in the Middle East. "We did discuss Israel and Iran. And both of us share a view, wanting to see a de-escalation of conflict, wanting to prioritise and diplomacy. I have expressed before our concern about Iran gaining the capacity of nuclear weapons as something that is a threat to security in the region." It was one of many meetings scheduled for the coming days, as Mr Albanese makes the most of his chance to advance Australia's interest on the world stage. The G7 consists of major economies, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U-S, but features several guest nations this year. Anthony Albanese's biggest test will come on Tuesday - Canadian time - when he sits down with Donald Trump for their first face-to-face meeting. "I look forward to the discussions with President Trump, I deal with people constructively, respectfully and I advance Australia's national interest, and that is what I'll continue to do." Mr Albanese has had no shortage of advice about how to deal with the president. His advisors include former prime ministers with firsthand experience, who maintain the only successful approach is to stand up to the president's hardball negotiations. US tariffs have been a key issue leading into the talks. "Now our position when it comes to tariffs is very clear. We see tariffs as acts of economic self harm by the country imposing the tariffs, because what it does is lead to increased costs for the country that is making those decisions." Ahead of the G7 summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says she is hoping to find a solution to U-S trade tensions before a pause on tariffs expires next month. "We are also working on lowering the trade barriers. This was the reason why we offered 'zero-for-zero', so zero tariffs for all industrial goods on both sides. This should be over time the goal. But we are amidst the negotiations right now." There are fears the AUKUS defence pact could be up for some re-negotiation as well, after it was placed under review by the Trump administration. Mr Albanese is under pressure to re-state Australia's case for the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, starting from 2032. "On AUKUS, it is very much in the interests of all three countries. What AUKUS offers the US is firstly the support that we're providing for their industrial capacity." Australia has already invested $800 million to support submarine building in the U-S, as production lags far behind key American targets. "And secondly, the increased capacity to have their subs in the water as well, because of the maintenance facilities that will take place at Henderson. In addition to that, there's all of the support that we give to the United States, and with our defence relationships, including fuel reserves in the Northern Territory; including the presence of US forces in in Darwin, as well." SBS News also asked Anthony Albanese whether he will raise the impact of Israel's conflict with Iran on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza when he speaks with Donald Trump. ANNA: "While these strikes are unfolding, there is no more aid getting into Gaza. So when you meet with the US President Donald trump will you be calling on him to apply pressure to the prime minister of Israel to allow aid through?" ALBANESE: "The discussion with President trump will be very much about Australia and the United States and our relations. We've got a few things to talk about."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Labor ‘betrays Israel in its hour of need' ahead of pleading with Trump for AUKUS
Sky News host Andrew Bolt claims Labor is 'betraying Israel in its hour of need' just days ahead of pleading with Donald Trump to not scrap AUKUS. 'Once again, Australia is betraying Israel in its hour of need, and once again it is stabbing our ally in the back and giving comfort to terrorists,' Mr Bolt said. 'What makes this betrayal the worst, is it comes just two days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump to plead for him to not to scrap our AUKUS deal.'
