Joe Biden diplomat lets slip Anthony Albanese’s US travel plans

Following previous criticism about Anthony Albanese’s frequent travelling, one of US President Joe Biden’s top diplomats has let slip that the Aussie leader could be on the move again.

Anthony Albanese appears set to travel to the US next month in what would mark the Prime Minister’s return to the global summit circuit after criticism of his frequent travel crescendoed last year.

While Mr Albanese’s office is yet to confirm the trip, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell let slip that the White House was expecting him to come to Washington DC for what would be his fourth visit to the US.

Mr Albanese has been invited to attend NATO’s 75th anniversary summit, and Dr Campbell said the Biden administration was excited as it prepared to host the leaders of Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand alongside the 32 member states.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with US President Joe Biden at the White House last year. Picture: AFP

“We believe that having the four (Asia-Pacific) countries with us in July is appropriate, and that we’ll hear their perspectives about how the Indo-Pacific is more linked to Europe than ever before,” he said at the Stimson Center think tank.

The Prime Minister had hoped to attend the annual G7 talks – at which Australia has been a regular fixture – but he missed out on an invitation for the summit that is on this week in Italy.

Officials at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation confirmed in February that Mr Albanese would be asked to attend its Washington DC event, marking 75 years since the collective security pact was established in the aftermath of World War II.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomes Anthony Albanese to last year’s NATO summit. Picture: Reuters

“I think there is very broad agreement on how important the Indo-Pacific is to everything,” Dr Campbell said, as he foreshadowed that the leaders would discuss China and North Korea’s support for Russia in its war against Ukraine as well as other common security challenges.

But President Joe Biden’s top diplomat for the Indo-Pacific region hosed down speculation that NATO was preparing to expand with an office in Japan.

“I don’t believe that NATO is looking for more out-of-area missions at this juncture, but they certainly appreciate and believe that countries in the Indo-Pacific have had a profound impact on the security of central Europe,” Dr Campbell said.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. Picture: Getty Images

“We are not seeking to send a message about a regional extra new mission on the part of NATO in the Indo-Pacific. That is not on the cards.”

“That doesn’t mean that there isn’t much work to be done, and there is. Some of this is just building greater understanding about the nature of security challenges in both places, attacking common issues that affect all the countries in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, and building more connectivity more generally.”

Mr Albanese was forced to fend off criticism last year as he took four overseas trips in the month after the Voice referendum was defeated, taking his tally to 18 since he came to office.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on him to cancel his November jaunt to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, saying he was “flying off overseas again when he should be staying in this country”.

But the Prime Minister said he had not “been on overseas holidays” and that “part of the job is to represent Australia” on the world stage.