APEC: Albanese backs in Kevin Rudd, says he won’t stop to meet with Trump after summits

Australia stands to benefit should Donald Trump make good on his pledge to walk the United States back on clean energy investment, Anthony Albanese says, as world leaders prepare for a period of uncertainty around global trade and climate action.

The fallout from the US election has set the “backdrop” for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in Peru, which officially begins on Friday and where the Prime Minister is expected to address his fellow leaders.

Mr Trump won’t be in the room, but his looming changes to the US’ trade and climate policies will hang overhead as leaders make the case for continuing fair and free trade, and maintaining investment in clean energy.

Mr Albanese on Thursday revealed he had discussed an in-person meeting with Mr Trump during their phone call last week, but ruled out doing so on his way home from South America.

“I’ll have a meeting with President Trump when it is organised. We spoke about gathering, and I’m sure that will occur,” he said at a press conference.

“We’ve had a very constructive beginning to our relationship with a very constructive phone call, and it was very positive.”

Mr Albanese also backed in Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, after Mr Trump reappointed deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino. Earlier this week, Mr Scavino took to social media to suggest Mr Rudd’s time in Washington could soon be up because of previous disparaging comments about the president-elect.

“Ambassador Rudd’s doing a good job and that’s been recognised across the political spectrum in Australia, from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull to Peter Dutton and obviously to the Australian government,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday.

Mr Albanese acknowledged the second Trump Administration would have an impact on the world, but didn’t want to pre-empt what the new US’ policy direction could look like.

But, he said Australia could stand to benefit should Mr Trump follow through on imposing widespread tariffs and winding back Joe Biden’s clean energy agenda.

“Potentially given Australia’s position in the world and the resources that we have, there are potential benefits if there are changes in US policy, we’ll wait and see what occurs,” he said.

“The Inflation Reduction Act has seen considerable capital flows in the US, and if those investments aren’t there that would have some implications for the nature of the global economy,.

“But we don’t pre-empt that government… certainly we see that Australia has great opportunity through climate action.

“We see that it’s important for our environment, but I also see this about economic opportunity. We have all the resources under the ground that will drive the global economy in the 21st century… We have a great opportunity to produce green hydrogen, we have the best solar resources in the world, and this represents an opportunity for Australia to participate in those measures.”

Mr Albanese met with Indonesian President Prabowa Subianto on Thursday (local time), where the pair discussed what impact Mr Trump’s presidency would have on the region, the growing military ties between Australia and Indonesia, and the need to “de-escalate” tensions in the region.

Mr Prabowo said Australia was a “very good friend of Indonesia” who share “very common problems”, and that despite some “ups and downs, we have been neighbours forever”.

Both leaders said they were looking forward to continuing to build closer relations with each other, which will continue to be imperative as they manage an increasingly competitive China and a potential different US regional posture under Mr Trump.

Mr Prabowo, who spoke to Mr Trump before heading to APEC and is trying to secure an in-person meeting, said he was focusing on trying to improve Indonesia’s relationship with all its neighbours.

In addition to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, he said he wanted “some sort of management with the Chinese to de-escalate and lower the temperature”, before media were quickly ushered out of the room.

Speaking later, Mr Albanese said Mr Prabowo was looking to ensure there was “peace, stability and security” in the South China Sea.

“And that there is engagement and dialogue to make sure that there aren’t any incidents that can escalate quickly… It is important that there be engagement and communication so there isn’t any misunderstanding,” he said.

Mr Albanese is seeking to meet with Mr Xi either on the APEC or G20 sidelines.

Before he left China, Beijing - through state media China Daily - nominated Mr Albanese as the leader other American allies should aspire to be like, praising him for his “strategic autonomy” amid “unprecedented geopolitical complexity and uncertainty” after Mr Trump’s election.

Mr Albanese also met with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, where he praised Peru’s successful leadership of APEC this year and pledged to work closely with her on trade, climate and mining.