Anthony Albanese will attend NATO leaders summit, office confirms

Despite earlier indicating he wasn’t planning on making the journey, Anthony Albanese has confirmed he will attend an important global summit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the NATO summit in Lithuania in July after previously indicating he would not be making the trip.

The annual leaders summit will be held on July 11 and 12 in Vilnius, where ongoing support for Ukraine’s war against Russia is set to be high on the agenda.

Reports emerged in recent weeks that Mr Albanese would not attend this year’s summit, in part because of a number of other travel commitments, including King Charles III’s coronation in England next month.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Albanese confirmed he would indeed be making the trek back to Europe for the summit.

“Australia shares with NATO members a commitment to supporting democracy, peace and security, and upholding the rule of law,” the spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend the NATO summit in July. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“The Prime Minister’s attendance at this year’s NATO leaders’ summit will be an important opportunity to reinforce Australia’s support for these global norms, demonstrate solidarity in response to Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine and advocate for Australia’s economic, climate and trade agenda.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham has in recent weeks been vocal in calling for Mr Albanese to attend the summit.

“We should be going to the NATO Leaders’ Summit represented by our Prime Minister, armed with a new and comprehensive package of support for Ukraine across military, humanitarian and other assistance to make sure we continue to defend the rules-based order where it is under direct threat at present by Russia through their invasion of Ukraine,” he said last week.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese will attend NATO leaders summit, office confirms