Anthony Albanese addresses travel criticism ahead of Quad Summit, Joe Biden meeting

Anthony Albanese, who has copped flak for his overseas travel decisions, has revealed why he had to travel to the US on this occasion.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese speaks ahead of the Quad Summit in the US. Picture: Supplied

Anthony Albanese admits he has limited his overseas trips to focus on domestic issues but says he has to attend this weekend’s Quad summit, as Joe Biden tries to ensure the partnership can withstand the potential return of Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister will be hosted by the President at his Delaware home for their final meeting before the US election, with Mr Biden wanting a “personal moment” with his allies.

But Mr Albanese is set to have a more difficult conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he would raise the nest of Indian spies operating on our shores in their first face-to-face meeting since Australia’s spy agency revealed the audacious plot.

White House officials and US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy said they were determined to use this weekend’s summit to “institutionalise” the Quad – which also includes India and Japan – before elections in the US, Japan and Australia.

Ambassadors Kevin Rudd and Caroline Kennedy speak about U.S.-Australia relations at the Asia Society in New York. Picture: Supplied

There will be a heavy focus on handling an increasingly aggressive China.

“What I’ve seen in Australia is that Europe and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly coming together, and we’re having one place like Ukraine affects what happens in another place like Taiwan and the South China Sea,” Ms Kennedy said.

Mr Albanese, speaking after arriving in Philadelphia, said the meeting of “four great democracies” meant it was a trip “that I have to make”.

“I know I get criticised for not doing more international travel, and the irony of that when compared with some of the coverage when I do travel is not lost,” he said, having been attacked by the opposition for his frequent trips as well as for skipping some summits.

With the next election looming, Mr Albanese said he had limited his travel “to the extent possible” but would attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October and the G20 and APEC summits in November.

“One of the reasons why I make sure I’m limiting some of my international travel is so that I can deal with domestic issues,” he said, suggesting he would have “a lot to say next week” about cost of living relief.

Anthony Albanese speaks ahead of the Quad Summit in the US. Picture: Tom Minear

After Indian spies were kicked out of Australia for trying to steal security secrets, Mr Albanese said that would “no doubt be something that is raised” with his Indian counterpart.

While Mr Modi will also meet with Mr Trump in the US, Mr Albanese sidestepped questions about whether he had considered trying to see the former and potentially future president.

He also defended his decision to fly home rather than attend the United Nations high-level week in New York with other world leaders.

The meetings in Delaware mark the first time Mr Biden has hosted foreign leaders in his hometown, with a visit to his old high school also on the agenda.

But the White House came under fire for blocking reporters from covering the meetings at his home, with the oldest president in history also refusing to hold a press conference.

Mr Albanese praised him as a “great friend of Australia” and a “champion of the Quad”.

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd said that while the Quad was “not a security relationship”, the “wider strategic circumstances have made possible and more urgent” its importance in maintaining an “equilibrium” with China.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese addresses travel criticism ahead of Quad Summit, Joe Biden meeting