PM ‘scared' of fumbling potential White House meeting with Trump
Penny Wong landed in Washington ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting – sharing a photo online alongside ambassador and former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
'Maybe Albanese is scared that he can't handle a meeting in the White House, that he will end up like Zelensky,' Mr Sheridan told Sky News Australia.
'But that's a pitiful position if the Australian prime minister is scared that he can't finesse a meeting.'
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
US hosts Quad meeting amid strained bilateral ties
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hosted his Australian, Indian and Japanese counterparts, seeking to boost efforts to counter China even as trade and other bilateral disagreements introduce friction into the relationships. The four countries, known as the Quad, share concerns about China's growing power but ties have been strained by US President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive from which none of the members have been spared. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, nevertheless, said the meeting had been "very productive". "Today's gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and keep it free and open," he said in a post on X. In welcoming his counterparts, Rubio called the Quad countries important strategic partners and said it was time to "deliver action" on specific issues. He said 30 or 40 companies from Quad countries would meet at the State Department on Tuesday to discuss co-operation, including diversification of the supply chain for critical minerals, which is a sector currently dominated by China. The meeting offers a chance to refocus attention on the region seen as the primary challenge for the US after Trump was distracted by issues elsewhere, including the recent Israel-Iran conflict. In January, the Quad said it would meet regularly to prepare for a leaders' summit in India later this year. Rubio was also to hold bilateral meetings with Japan's Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar and Australia's Penny Wong. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier on Tuesday that the US and India were nearing a deal to lower tariffs on US imports and to help India avoid levies rising sharply next week. Jaishankar told an event in New York on Monday there were hopes of bringing the talks to a successful conclusion, which would require "give and take" to find middle ground. After the Quad meeting, Jaishankar went to the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he hoped India and the US could build on their defence integration efforts. "We hope we can complete several major pending US defense sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial co-operation and co-production efforts," Hegseth said at the start of their meeting. Japan postponed an annual ministerial meeting with the US State and Defense Departments that was supposed to be held on Tuesday. Press reports said this move followed US pressure for it to boost military spending further than previously requested. Nicholas Szechenyi, at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said US-Japan ties appeared to have lost momentum since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump hailed a new golden age in ties at a summit in February. "The tariff negotiations are all-consuming, and the Japanese appear exasperated by the administration's public lectures on defence spending," Szechenyi said. The Financial Times said last week the demands came from Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, whom analysts say has also recently created anxiety in Australia by launching a review of the massive AUKUS project to provide that country with nuclear-powered submarines. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's former ambassador to Washington DC and now with the Asia Group consultancy, said bilateral issues could overshadow the meeting, from which the US is keen to see a greater Quad focus on security. "Australian audiences will be looking for clues on the US stance on AUKUS as well as on trade," he said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hosted his Australian, Indian and Japanese counterparts, seeking to boost efforts to counter China even as trade and other bilateral disagreements introduce friction into the relationships. The four countries, known as the Quad, share concerns about China's growing power but ties have been strained by US President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive from which none of the members have been spared. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, nevertheless, said the meeting had been "very productive". "Today's gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and keep it free and open," he said in a post on X. In welcoming his counterparts, Rubio called the Quad countries important strategic partners and said it was time to "deliver action" on specific issues. He said 30 or 40 companies from Quad countries would meet at the State Department on Tuesday to discuss co-operation, including diversification of the supply chain for critical minerals, which is a sector currently dominated by China. The meeting offers a chance to refocus attention on the region seen as the primary challenge for the US after Trump was distracted by issues elsewhere, including the recent Israel-Iran conflict. In January, the Quad said it would meet regularly to prepare for a leaders' summit in India later this year. Rubio was also to hold bilateral meetings with Japan's Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar and Australia's Penny Wong. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier on Tuesday that the US and India were nearing a deal to lower tariffs on US imports and to help India avoid levies rising sharply next week. Jaishankar told an event in New York on Monday there were hopes of bringing the talks to a successful conclusion, which would require "give and take" to find middle ground. After the Quad meeting, Jaishankar went to the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he hoped India and the US could build on their defence integration efforts. "We hope we can complete several major pending US defense sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial co-operation and co-production efforts," Hegseth said at the start of their meeting. Japan postponed an annual ministerial meeting with the US State and Defense Departments that was supposed to be held on Tuesday. Press reports said this move followed US pressure for it to boost military spending further than previously requested. Nicholas Szechenyi, at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said US-Japan ties appeared to have lost momentum since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump hailed a new golden age in ties at a summit in February. "The tariff negotiations are all-consuming, and the Japanese appear exasperated by the administration's public lectures on defence spending," Szechenyi said. The Financial Times said last week the demands came from Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, whom analysts say has also recently created anxiety in Australia by launching a review of the massive AUKUS project to provide that country with nuclear-powered submarines. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's former ambassador to Washington DC and now with the Asia Group consultancy, said bilateral issues could overshadow the meeting, from which the US is keen to see a greater Quad focus on security. "Australian audiences will be looking for clues on the US stance on AUKUS as well as on trade," he said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hosted his Australian, Indian and Japanese counterparts, seeking to boost efforts to counter China even as trade and other bilateral disagreements introduce friction into the relationships. The four countries, known as the Quad, share concerns about China's growing power but ties have been strained by US President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive from which none of the members have been spared. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, nevertheless, said the meeting had been "very productive". "Today's gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and keep it free and open," he said in a post on X. In welcoming his counterparts, Rubio called the Quad countries important strategic partners and said it was time to "deliver action" on specific issues. He said 30 or 40 companies from Quad countries would meet at the State Department on Tuesday to discuss co-operation, including diversification of the supply chain for critical minerals, which is a sector currently dominated by China. The meeting offers a chance to refocus attention on the region seen as the primary challenge for the US after Trump was distracted by issues elsewhere, including the recent Israel-Iran conflict. In January, the Quad said it would meet regularly to prepare for a leaders' summit in India later this year. Rubio was also to hold bilateral meetings with Japan's Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar and Australia's Penny Wong. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier on Tuesday that the US and India were nearing a deal to lower tariffs on US imports and to help India avoid levies rising sharply next week. Jaishankar told an event in New York on Monday there were hopes of bringing the talks to a successful conclusion, which would require "give and take" to find middle ground. After the Quad meeting, Jaishankar went to the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he hoped India and the US could build on their defence integration efforts. "We hope we can complete several major pending US defense sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial co-operation and co-production efforts," Hegseth said at the start of their meeting. Japan postponed an annual ministerial meeting with the US State and Defense Departments that was supposed to be held on Tuesday. Press reports said this move followed US pressure for it to boost military spending further than previously requested. Nicholas Szechenyi, at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said US-Japan ties appeared to have lost momentum since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump hailed a new golden age in ties at a summit in February. "The tariff negotiations are all-consuming, and the Japanese appear exasperated by the administration's public lectures on defence spending," Szechenyi said. The Financial Times said last week the demands came from Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, whom analysts say has also recently created anxiety in Australia by launching a review of the massive AUKUS project to provide that country with nuclear-powered submarines. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's former ambassador to Washington DC and now with the Asia Group consultancy, said bilateral issues could overshadow the meeting, from which the US is keen to see a greater Quad focus on security. "Australian audiences will be looking for clues on the US stance on AUKUS as well as on trade," he said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hosted his Australian, Indian and Japanese counterparts, seeking to boost efforts to counter China even as trade and other bilateral disagreements introduce friction into the relationships. The four countries, known as the Quad, share concerns about China's growing power but ties have been strained by US President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive from which none of the members have been spared. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, nevertheless, said the meeting had been "very productive". "Today's gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and keep it free and open," he said in a post on X. In welcoming his counterparts, Rubio called the Quad countries important strategic partners and said it was time to "deliver action" on specific issues. He said 30 or 40 companies from Quad countries would meet at the State Department on Tuesday to discuss co-operation, including diversification of the supply chain for critical minerals, which is a sector currently dominated by China. The meeting offers a chance to refocus attention on the region seen as the primary challenge for the US after Trump was distracted by issues elsewhere, including the recent Israel-Iran conflict. In January, the Quad said it would meet regularly to prepare for a leaders' summit in India later this year. Rubio was also to hold bilateral meetings with Japan's Takeshi Iwaya, Jaishankar and Australia's Penny Wong. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier on Tuesday that the US and India were nearing a deal to lower tariffs on US imports and to help India avoid levies rising sharply next week. Jaishankar told an event in New York on Monday there were hopes of bringing the talks to a successful conclusion, which would require "give and take" to find middle ground. After the Quad meeting, Jaishankar went to the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he hoped India and the US could build on their defence integration efforts. "We hope we can complete several major pending US defense sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial co-operation and co-production efforts," Hegseth said at the start of their meeting. Japan postponed an annual ministerial meeting with the US State and Defense Departments that was supposed to be held on Tuesday. Press reports said this move followed US pressure for it to boost military spending further than previously requested. Nicholas Szechenyi, at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said US-Japan ties appeared to have lost momentum since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump hailed a new golden age in ties at a summit in February. "The tariff negotiations are all-consuming, and the Japanese appear exasperated by the administration's public lectures on defence spending," Szechenyi said. The Financial Times said last week the demands came from Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, whom analysts say has also recently created anxiety in Australia by launching a review of the massive AUKUS project to provide that country with nuclear-powered submarines. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's former ambassador to Washington DC and now with the Asia Group consultancy, said bilateral issues could overshadow the meeting, from which the US is keen to see a greater Quad focus on security. "Australian audiences will be looking for clues on the US stance on AUKUS as well as on trade," he said.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Australia makes case for tariff reprieve in Washington
Australia's foreign minister is making the case for an exemption from US tariffs in crucial talks with her American counterparts. Penny Wong met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday morning, Australian time, as negotiations continue in Australia's hope of removing the economic measures. The face-to-face discussions with Mr Rubio took place in Washington on the sidelines of a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which also includes Senator Wong's counterparts from India and Japan. Senator Wong told Mr Rubio it was unfortunate that they were meeting against a backdrop of conflict in the world. "So it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength for peace, stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," she said. Mr Rubio responded that the US and Australia had a "great partnership", and while it was important to discuss ideas and concepts, the next steps were "concrete action". It's the second time in six months that foreign ministers from the Quad nations have met for in-person talks, with the grouping also holding formal discussions in Washington in the days following US President Donald Trump's inauguration. Defence, trade and stability in the Indo-Pacific have been high on the agenda during the discussions. "The United States is our closest ally and principal strategic partner," Senator Wong said ahead of the meeting. "Our alliance contributes to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries and the region we share." The meeting came against a backdrop of tariffs due to apply to goods imported into the US from its trading partners from July 9. Mr Trump's administration has imposed a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all Australian goods imports, and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been under pressure from the federal opposition to secure an in-person meeting with the president to argue for tariff removals. The two leaders were due to speak on the sidelines of the G7 session held in June in Canada, but the meeting was scrapped at the eleventh hour when Mr Trump left the summit early due to instability in the Middle East. A replacement meeting is yet to be scheduled. Australia's foreign minister is making the case for an exemption from US tariffs in crucial talks with her American counterparts. Penny Wong met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday morning, Australian time, as negotiations continue in Australia's hope of removing the economic measures. The face-to-face discussions with Mr Rubio took place in Washington on the sidelines of a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which also includes Senator Wong's counterparts from India and Japan. Senator Wong told Mr Rubio it was unfortunate that they were meeting against a backdrop of conflict in the world. "So it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength for peace, stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," she said. Mr Rubio responded that the US and Australia had a "great partnership", and while it was important to discuss ideas and concepts, the next steps were "concrete action". It's the second time in six months that foreign ministers from the Quad nations have met for in-person talks, with the grouping also holding formal discussions in Washington in the days following US President Donald Trump's inauguration. Defence, trade and stability in the Indo-Pacific have been high on the agenda during the discussions. "The United States is our closest ally and principal strategic partner," Senator Wong said ahead of the meeting. "Our alliance contributes to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries and the region we share." The meeting came against a backdrop of tariffs due to apply to goods imported into the US from its trading partners from July 9. Mr Trump's administration has imposed a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all Australian goods imports, and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been under pressure from the federal opposition to secure an in-person meeting with the president to argue for tariff removals. The two leaders were due to speak on the sidelines of the G7 session held in June in Canada, but the meeting was scrapped at the eleventh hour when Mr Trump left the summit early due to instability in the Middle East. A replacement meeting is yet to be scheduled. Australia's foreign minister is making the case for an exemption from US tariffs in crucial talks with her American counterparts. Penny Wong met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday morning, Australian time, as negotiations continue in Australia's hope of removing the economic measures. The face-to-face discussions with Mr Rubio took place in Washington on the sidelines of a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which also includes Senator Wong's counterparts from India and Japan. Senator Wong told Mr Rubio it was unfortunate that they were meeting against a backdrop of conflict in the world. "So it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength for peace, stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," she said. Mr Rubio responded that the US and Australia had a "great partnership", and while it was important to discuss ideas and concepts, the next steps were "concrete action". It's the second time in six months that foreign ministers from the Quad nations have met for in-person talks, with the grouping also holding formal discussions in Washington in the days following US President Donald Trump's inauguration. Defence, trade and stability in the Indo-Pacific have been high on the agenda during the discussions. "The United States is our closest ally and principal strategic partner," Senator Wong said ahead of the meeting. "Our alliance contributes to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries and the region we share." The meeting came against a backdrop of tariffs due to apply to goods imported into the US from its trading partners from July 9. Mr Trump's administration has imposed a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all Australian goods imports, and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been under pressure from the federal opposition to secure an in-person meeting with the president to argue for tariff removals. The two leaders were due to speak on the sidelines of the G7 session held in June in Canada, but the meeting was scrapped at the eleventh hour when Mr Trump left the summit early due to instability in the Middle East. A replacement meeting is yet to be scheduled. Australia's foreign minister is making the case for an exemption from US tariffs in crucial talks with her American counterparts. Penny Wong met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday morning, Australian time, as negotiations continue in Australia's hope of removing the economic measures. The face-to-face discussions with Mr Rubio took place in Washington on the sidelines of a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which also includes Senator Wong's counterparts from India and Japan. Senator Wong told Mr Rubio it was unfortunate that they were meeting against a backdrop of conflict in the world. "So it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength for peace, stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," she said. Mr Rubio responded that the US and Australia had a "great partnership", and while it was important to discuss ideas and concepts, the next steps were "concrete action". It's the second time in six months that foreign ministers from the Quad nations have met for in-person talks, with the grouping also holding formal discussions in Washington in the days following US President Donald Trump's inauguration. Defence, trade and stability in the Indo-Pacific have been high on the agenda during the discussions. "The United States is our closest ally and principal strategic partner," Senator Wong said ahead of the meeting. "Our alliance contributes to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries and the region we share." The meeting came against a backdrop of tariffs due to apply to goods imported into the US from its trading partners from July 9. Mr Trump's administration has imposed a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all Australian goods imports, and a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been under pressure from the federal opposition to secure an in-person meeting with the president to argue for tariff removals. The two leaders were due to speak on the sidelines of the G7 session held in June in Canada, but the meeting was scrapped at the eleventh hour when Mr Trump left the summit early due to instability in the Middle East. A replacement meeting is yet to be scheduled.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Fiji leader to spruik security, unity to Australia
Strengthening security and regional unity in the Pacific will be on the agenda when the Australian prime minister meets with his Fijian counterpart. Sitiveni Rabuka will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday after he was welcomed to Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the week, Mr Rabuka and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the Wallabies-Fiji Test in Newcastle to watch the two national teams clash for the Vuvale Bowl in a statement of the cultural bonds shared through rugby. Fiji's prime minister, whose nation is a key regional ally of Australia, has previously advocated for the concept of the Pacific being the "ocean of peace". That includes adopting foundational ethics and principles for "Pacific regionalism" and outlines themes of climate protection in addition to managing increasing strategic competition between China and the US. Blake Johnson, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Pacific Centre, said Mr Rabuka would likely want to elaborate on the proposal in his televised address. "It's trying to unite the Pacific to push back against some of the competition that's taking place," he told AAP. "To really focus on taking care of the oceans and getting a more unified approach to getting partners like the US and Australia and others to commit to supporting climate change adaptation projects." Mr Johnson said the concept also pushed for a cohesive approach from within the Pacific in trying to resolve the region's security challenges. "That's something that Australia has been getting better at over the last 12 months," he said. "A lot of its different initiatives are trying to support a Pacific-driven security solution that doesn't involve drawing in all of this additional support from Beijing or from the US." Any visit by a Pacific leader to Australia was an opportunity for Canberra to spruik its support for the bilateral relationship, Mr Johnson added. "The security of Australia depends on the security of our surrounding region," he said. "There can sometimes be unrest in Pacific Island countries and if that all spills over, it creates an unstable region around Australia, and that's not good for our overall security." Strengthening security and regional unity in the Pacific will be on the agenda when the Australian prime minister meets with his Fijian counterpart. Sitiveni Rabuka will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday after he was welcomed to Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the week, Mr Rabuka and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the Wallabies-Fiji Test in Newcastle to watch the two national teams clash for the Vuvale Bowl in a statement of the cultural bonds shared through rugby. Fiji's prime minister, whose nation is a key regional ally of Australia, has previously advocated for the concept of the Pacific being the "ocean of peace". That includes adopting foundational ethics and principles for "Pacific regionalism" and outlines themes of climate protection in addition to managing increasing strategic competition between China and the US. Blake Johnson, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Pacific Centre, said Mr Rabuka would likely want to elaborate on the proposal in his televised address. "It's trying to unite the Pacific to push back against some of the competition that's taking place," he told AAP. "To really focus on taking care of the oceans and getting a more unified approach to getting partners like the US and Australia and others to commit to supporting climate change adaptation projects." Mr Johnson said the concept also pushed for a cohesive approach from within the Pacific in trying to resolve the region's security challenges. "That's something that Australia has been getting better at over the last 12 months," he said. "A lot of its different initiatives are trying to support a Pacific-driven security solution that doesn't involve drawing in all of this additional support from Beijing or from the US." Any visit by a Pacific leader to Australia was an opportunity for Canberra to spruik its support for the bilateral relationship, Mr Johnson added. "The security of Australia depends on the security of our surrounding region," he said. "There can sometimes be unrest in Pacific Island countries and if that all spills over, it creates an unstable region around Australia, and that's not good for our overall security." Strengthening security and regional unity in the Pacific will be on the agenda when the Australian prime minister meets with his Fijian counterpart. Sitiveni Rabuka will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday after he was welcomed to Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the week, Mr Rabuka and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the Wallabies-Fiji Test in Newcastle to watch the two national teams clash for the Vuvale Bowl in a statement of the cultural bonds shared through rugby. Fiji's prime minister, whose nation is a key regional ally of Australia, has previously advocated for the concept of the Pacific being the "ocean of peace". That includes adopting foundational ethics and principles for "Pacific regionalism" and outlines themes of climate protection in addition to managing increasing strategic competition between China and the US. Blake Johnson, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Pacific Centre, said Mr Rabuka would likely want to elaborate on the proposal in his televised address. "It's trying to unite the Pacific to push back against some of the competition that's taking place," he told AAP. "To really focus on taking care of the oceans and getting a more unified approach to getting partners like the US and Australia and others to commit to supporting climate change adaptation projects." Mr Johnson said the concept also pushed for a cohesive approach from within the Pacific in trying to resolve the region's security challenges. "That's something that Australia has been getting better at over the last 12 months," he said. "A lot of its different initiatives are trying to support a Pacific-driven security solution that doesn't involve drawing in all of this additional support from Beijing or from the US." Any visit by a Pacific leader to Australia was an opportunity for Canberra to spruik its support for the bilateral relationship, Mr Johnson added. "The security of Australia depends on the security of our surrounding region," he said. "There can sometimes be unrest in Pacific Island countries and if that all spills over, it creates an unstable region around Australia, and that's not good for our overall security." Strengthening security and regional unity in the Pacific will be on the agenda when the Australian prime minister meets with his Fijian counterpart. Sitiveni Rabuka will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday after he was welcomed to Government House by Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the week, Mr Rabuka and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the Wallabies-Fiji Test in Newcastle to watch the two national teams clash for the Vuvale Bowl in a statement of the cultural bonds shared through rugby. Fiji's prime minister, whose nation is a key regional ally of Australia, has previously advocated for the concept of the Pacific being the "ocean of peace". That includes adopting foundational ethics and principles for "Pacific regionalism" and outlines themes of climate protection in addition to managing increasing strategic competition between China and the US. Blake Johnson, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Pacific Centre, said Mr Rabuka would likely want to elaborate on the proposal in his televised address. "It's trying to unite the Pacific to push back against some of the competition that's taking place," he told AAP. "To really focus on taking care of the oceans and getting a more unified approach to getting partners like the US and Australia and others to commit to supporting climate change adaptation projects." Mr Johnson said the concept also pushed for a cohesive approach from within the Pacific in trying to resolve the region's security challenges. "That's something that Australia has been getting better at over the last 12 months," he said. "A lot of its different initiatives are trying to support a Pacific-driven security solution that doesn't involve drawing in all of this additional support from Beijing or from the US." Any visit by a Pacific leader to Australia was an opportunity for Canberra to spruik its support for the bilateral relationship, Mr Johnson added. "The security of Australia depends on the security of our surrounding region," he said. "There can sometimes be unrest in Pacific Island countries and if that all spills over, it creates an unstable region around Australia, and that's not good for our overall security."
