Anthony Albanese hints at attending G20 summit despite Vladimir Putin’s presence
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on his way to Indonesia but had a stark message for Russian President Vladimir Putin before he left.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the country needs to strengthen relations with Indonesia, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong set to be crucial in leading the ‘new era’ of relations between both nations.
As a result, the newly elected Prime Minister has signified he will travel to the G20 summit in Bali later this year, despite the likelihood of Russian President Vladimir Putin also attending.
Mr Albanese, who has flown to Jakarta to meet with the with Indonesian president Joko Widodo on Sunday, said he was “looking forward to continuing our discussions about the ongoing partnership between our nations, including revitalising our trade relationship”.
But in relation to the global meeting in November, Mr Albanese acknowledged there may be some discomfort should the Russian President be in attendance — but his presence would not deter his visit to the summit.
“We respect the fact that the presidency of the G20 is so important for Indonesia and important for President Widodo,” Mr Albanese said.
“Of course it’s the case that people who respect human rights would feel uncomfortable with sitting around the table with Vladimir Putin.
“Vladimir Putin, of course, attended the G20 meeting in Australia after the downing of the airline that led to – that resulted in the death of so many Australians and other international citizens. We have no time for what Vladimir Putin has done in Ukraine. We’ve made our position very, very clear on that and we’ll continue to do so.”
Discussing the prospect of Mr Albanese attending the G20 summit should President Putin also make the journey, journalist Karen Middleton said she would be “surprised” if Australia’s Prime Minister missed the “important” meet.
“It is an important support for the Indonesian President, and Australia’s relationship with Indonesia has been undercooked in recent years,” Middleton said during a panel discussion on ABC’S Insiders on Sunday.
“In fact, with the whole of southeast Asia and the Pacific. We really have undercooked that whole region and I think the trade relationship needs restarting.
“Yes, it’s an issue with Vladimir Putin being there … but it’s an opportunity to send a message directly to the Russian President if he is physically there.
“It’s an opportunity for the Australian Prime Minister to be in a room with these leaders that he doesn’t know very well yet so I would be surprised if he doesn’t go.”
Prior to the election, Mr Albanese was asked about Australia’s relationship with Indonesia and, if elected, would a visit be on the cards early in his reign as Prime Minister.
Addressing the question at the National Press Club in May, Mr Albanese said he wanted a close engagement between the countries.
“Indonesia is so close – about to be a superpower in the world,” he said, as reported by SBS.
“We need to really strengthen the relationship with Indonesia and that’s why it would be an absolute priority for me.
“Indonesia will grow to be an economy that’s substantial in the world, we live in a region whereby in the future we will have China, India and Indonesia as giants.
“We need to strengthen that economic partnership and one way I can do that is by strengthening people-to- people relations as well.”
However, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that attending the G20 Summit should he be re-elected in the 2022 Federal Election would be a “step too far” if the Russian President also travelled to the event.
“I think we need to have people in the room that aren’t invading other countries,” Mr Morrison said at the time, citing Russia’s war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Mr Morrison said he had been in “direct contact” with Indonesian President Joko Widodo about Putin’s attendance at the G20, which brings together the world’s top economies, including the United States, China and Japan.
“Russia has invaded Ukraine. This is a violent and aggressive act that shatters the international rule of law,” Morrison said earlier this year.
“And the idea of sitting around a table with Vladimir Putin … for me, is a step too far.”
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In March, Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia confirmed the Russian leader intends to be in Bali for the summit in November.
Prior to Mr Albanese departing for Jakarta from Perth on Sunday with Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell, Industry Minister Ed Husic and Northern Territory MP Luke Gosling, Mr Albanese said his government is “determined to have better relations across the Indo-Pacific region”.
“That’s why I not only attended the Quad leaders’ meeting on the day that we were sworn in as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, with Foreign Minister Wong, why this early visit with a very high-level delegation from Australia indicates to our Indonesian friends the importance that we place on that relationship.”
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