“The alliance between Australia and the United States has never been more important than it is today, and we have never been more committed than we are today,” the Democratic host told his guest.
According to the president, the two countries “are ready to do the hard, historic work to meet the challenges we face.”
Nearly four thousand spectators on the south lawn of the mansion attended the official welcoming ceremony for Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon.
Albanese’s visit is part of a historic agreement called AUKUS, which observers and some media say is a key step in Biden’s efforts to close the circle of Washington’s allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region to counter China.
Upon his arrival in Washington, D.C., Albanese laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday.
He also visited Microsoft, where the company announced an unprecedented $3 billion artificial intelligence and cybersecurity partnership with Australia.
The day before, both governments presented a working group on critical minerals to discuss bilateral cooperation in this area. In addition, the visitor attended a reopening ceremony of the recently renovated Australian Embassy.
This morning’s reception began Albanese’s official program, which also includes discussions with Biden.
Biden and Albanese will talk about “how to strengthen defense cooperation,” Mira Rapp-Hooper, White House director for East Asia and Oceania, told reporters earlier in the day.
We believe – stressed the official – that this visit is a fitting celebration of the alliance between the United States and Australia (past, present and future).
This Wednesday, the White House canceled the performance of the new wave band B-52s at the state dinner dedicated to Albanese, deeming it inappropriate.
The first lady, Jill Biden, opposed the group’s presence because “so many people are suffering from sadness and pain,” although she did not refer to the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.
The Australian head of state is the fourth world leader to be honored with a state visit by the Democratic president, after the leaders of France, South Korea and India.
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