Anthony Albanese’s warm Canadian welcome for G7 summit

Anthony Albanese arrived in Calgary bearing Australian gifts for his Canadian counterpart in his first formal engagement of the Group of Seven leaders’ summit. See photos.

Donald Trump is taking the art of the deal to the G7 Summit in Calgary where he’s confident his bilateral sideline meetings with world leaders from Australia, Japan and Canada could result in trade agreements.

It’s a promising signal for Anthony Albanese who will meet with the US President on Wednesday morning Australian time in what will be both of their final engagements of the global leaders’ meetings.

Mr Albanese touched down in Calgary on Monday AEST before heading straight to a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart where the pair discussed war in the Middle East, strengthening defence ties and the climate crisis fuelling bushfires seasons in both countries.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Calgary, Alberta. Picture: The Canadian Press via AP

En route to the event from Washington, Mr Trump, who is falling well short of his bid to strike 90 deals in 90 days on tariffs, told reporters the US dictated terms of trade deals by sending letters telling other countries what levies they would pay.

“But I think we’re going to have a few new trade deals, yeah,” Mr Trump said.

Mr Albanese brushed off questions about the potential for a volatile meeting with the President who has publicly sparred with other world leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said he looked forward to a constructive and respectful dialogue that focused on Australia-US relations including carve outs against the “economic self harm” of tariffs and the continuation of the AUKUS defence deal.

“We’ve got a few things to talk about,” he said.

Anthony Albanese touching down at Calgary International Airport. Picture: AP

It followed a bilateral meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney who presented Mr Albanese with a Stetson cowboy hat and a bear sculpture from a local artist.

The Australian PM in turn gifted his counterpart an Akubra and framed memorabilia from the National Film and Sound Archives of Australia from the movie Gallipoli – Mr Carney’s favourite film.

“We did discuss deepening defence engagement, including Canada’s proposed procurement of Australian over-the-horizon radar technology,” Mr Albanese said of the meeting.

“I think that Australia always has a case for maximising our defence and security relationships in what is an uncertain world.”

Australia’s PM was greeted by Irwin McAdam, of the Treaty 6 Territory, left, and Rod Hunter, Councillor for the Bearspaw First Nation, at Calgary International Airport. Picture: AP

It was the second time the two Prime Ministers have come face-to-face after their first meeting on the sidelines of Pope Leo’s inauguration in May.

Mr Carney reiterated the strong ties between two countries, particularly in Australia’s deployment of almost 100 Australian firefighters helping battle wildfires still raging in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan

“And once again, as Australians always do, and you always do, have stepped up,” Mr Carney said.

On Monday, Mr Albanese will meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to reiterate Australia’s support for the Ukraine in its war with Russia.

He will also meet with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae-myung about Indo-Pacific security, energy and trade.

Mr Trump will meet with Mr Carney on Monday and also has bilaterals scheduled with Mr Zelensky, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba.

Mr Albanese will seek to strengthen defence ties as he meets with other leaders and said part of his discussion with Mr Carney focussed on Canada’s proposed procurement of Australian radar technology.

“We did discuss deepening defence engagement, including Canada’s proposed procurement of Australian over-the-horizon radar technology,” he said.

“I welcome Canada’s interest in procuring Australia’s world leading technology, and look forward to our respective teams prioritising this work.”

Mr Albanese is also expected to discuss a Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union leaders when they meet on Tuesday that could lead to increased collaboration on counter-terrorism, defence and technology.

“I think that Australia always has a case for maximising our defence and security relationships in what is an uncertain world,” Mr Albanese said.

“I think what’s clear is that in the uncertain world, what people are looking for is certainty in relationships, trusted relationships.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese’s warm Canadian welcome for G7 summit