Albanese vows ‘constructive engagement’ with Trump

Penny Wong is the first Australian foreign minister to attend a US presidential inauguration. Photo: AAP
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to work closely with the Trump administration as he congratulated the former president on retaking office.
US President Donald Trump was inaugurated for the second time in Washington on Tuesday (AEDT).
“I look forward to having a constructive engagement with him,” Albanese said in Sydney on Tuesday.
He reaffirmed Australia’s strong economic, defence and national security ties with the US following concerns Trump could threaten Australia’s plan to buy nuclear power submarines.
There are also concerns about trade tariffs.
“Of course, you want to see the economic relationship between Australia and the US continue to be strong, that is in the interests of both nations,” Albanese said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong attended Trump’s inauguration with US ambassador Kevin Rudd and said it was “such a privilege and honour to be the first Australian foreign minister to be invited and to attend an inauguration”.
Wong used multiple interviews to reaffirm Australia’s positive trading relationship, saying half of Australian exports to the US went into its production sector.
There was a trade surplus in the US’s favour of about two to one, Wong said, adding she’d raise the economic relationship during meetings.
“It’s an economic relationship which is of great benefit to the United States,” she said.
Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your inauguration as 47th President of the United States. The United States is a great friend of Australia’s. Our Alliance has never been stronger. I look forward to working with you on the opportunities and challenges ahead.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 20, 2025
But former ambassadors to the US have warned about the global shake-up a Trump presidency could usher in.
Joe Hockey who was in the role during the last Trump presidency said he wasn’t as worried about tariffs – which Australia managed to get an exemption to during that term – as other changes.
“If they get rid of regulation … then it’s very hard to do business in Australia rather than in America,” he told Nine’s Today show from Washington.
“What you’re going to see is that the second round impact of decisions that Trump makes in America are going to have a big impact on Australia and they’re going to force policy change in Australia.”
Social changes in America would also flow through to Australia, Hockey said, adding Trump “has no handbrake” because he won’t worry about what the media says or a re-election bid.
“He’s going to be off the leash and it’s all going to unfold pretty quickly,” he said.
Australia is one of the few foreign governments invited to attend the US Presidential inauguration, which reflects the steadfast alliance between our nations.
My visit to DC was also an opportunity to meet with my Quad colleagues Indian EAM @DrSJaishankar and Japanese FM Iwaya. pic.twitter.com/61g9aahEtV
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) January 20, 2025
But La Trobe University professor Dennis Altman said Australia’s fragile relationship with China and Pacific nations could be at risk under Trump’s second presidential term.
Trump could use the trilateral AUKUS partnership to threaten Australia’s recently rekindled links with its largest two-way trading partner, Altman said.
“The whole global picture is uncertain,” he said.
The deal between Australia, the US and the UK is part of a $368 billion plan to deliver nuclear-powered submarines for Australian service.
While it has received bipartisan support in America, it is unclear how those within Trump’s administration will act.
“They might use the AUKUS agreement to push Australia into a position we would find very awkward,” Altman said, pointing to the Albanese government’s work to re-establish the relationship with Beijing.
“But that’s imperilled now and it’s not helped by some of the people in the opposition who are echoing the war rhetoric of Trump’s advisers.”
Australia’s ties with its Pacific neighbours could also be jeopardised by Trump’s second term as he has repeatedly indicated he will pull the US out of the Paris agreement on climate change, Altman said.
“It will give ammunition to the people on the right in both the Liberal and National parties who want to ditch a commitment to lower emissions,” he said.
“That will have huge implications for our relations with Pacific Island countries for whom this is an existential issue.”
The US also holds significant influence over global culture wars and Trump’s term could embolden Australia’s wealthy, right-wing figures.
“They are going to use the Trump presidency to push back against what they regard as woke policies on gender, sexuality and multiculturalism,” Altman said.
-AAP