Seat at world table a priority amid global turmoil in Ukraine, Middle East Israel-Hamas conflict

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese toast before the start of the state dinner at the White House.

What happens in the world matters at home. Global dynamics impact our security and our economy but, as we’ve seen through times of Covid and conflict, we also feel the effects in our household bills and jobs. We feel it every time we visit the shops or the petrol pump. Everything is interlinked.

Never has this been more evident than during my visit to Washington last week. My meetings there came at a time when our world faces a set of profound challenges. We are confronted by threats to peace and tests of the international rules-based order, making the work of strengthening our US alliance as essential as it has ever been.

For more than eight decades our alliance has thrived, even through testing times. A partnership of equals where we respect each other’s vital interests and work together in common cause. Last week, I worked with President Joe Biden to turn the game-changing Climate and Clean Energy compact we signed in May into a commercial reality.

Critical minerals and rare earths are the key to unlocking a net-zero economy, and Australia is uniquely positioned to be a major player in this rapidly expanding sector. We are the world’s largest supplier of lithium.

We are the fourth-largest supplier of cobalt and the third-largest of rare earths. We have shovel-ready projects ripe for investment. And, crucially, we have a highly skilled workforce and innovative mining sector to ensure we can move up the value chain. Setting our sights – and unleashing our skills – beyond mining and into production and value-adding.

At a roundtable with the industry leaders from the critical minerals sector at the Australian embassy in Washington, I announced a $2bn expansion of our government’s Critical Minerals Facility, which will turbocharge critical minerals projects in Australia.

Another priority in Washington was strengthening our economic partnerships in cloud computing, innovation and cybersecurity.

Last week I met with Microsoft as it announced an additional $5bn investment in Australia. It will boost Microsoft’s presence here, with nine new data centres and a massive expansion of its skills initiative, enabling an additional 300,000 Australians to get the training they need for a cloud- and AI-enabled economy.

An employee of Sayona Quebec in front of a lithium deposit at the company's North American Lithium Complex in La Corne.

Microsoft will also partner with the Australian Signals Directorate on a state-of-the-art Cyber Shield, to help protect our people, business and government from cyber threats. I witnessed the signing of the Technology Safeguards Agreement between Australia and the US – something President Biden and I had agreed in principle in our meeting in Japan in May.

It will be transformational for our growing space industry, enabling Australia to up the ante on our domestic space launch capability. This will create good jobs and spark innovation.

In my discussions with President Biden, we also made progress on innovation, science and co-operation in our Pacific region on subsea cables, maritime infrastructure and regional banking.

And in congress, I was met with broad, robust, bipartisan support for AUKUS and Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines.

Above all, my time in Washington underscored that the friendship between our two nations derives its strength from the ideals we have in common – democracy, justice, peace and freedom. The desire for a world where the sovereignty of every nation is respected – and the dignity of every individual is recognised. That is the heart of our alliance.

Not a pact against a common enemy, but a pledge to a common cause. Our shared belief that freedom, peace and equality are not just American ideals or Australian values – they belong to all humankind. That is why Ukrainian soldiers are driving Australian-made Bushmasters as they drive back Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion. I announced in Washington a further $20m in defence assistance for Ukraine, including some of Australia’s cutting-edge technology – anti-drone and de-mining equipment, and portable X-ray machines.

A Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle bound for Ukraine waits to be loaded onto a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster.

In a time of conflict, uncertainty and rapid change, I recognise that our international partnerships are powered by our people and must deliver for our people. For this reason, I have made it a priority for Australia to have a seat at the world table, where we can engage consistently and deliberately, and make our voice heard.

Because being part of the conversation – whether it is on the economy, climate change or inflation – means Australia gets to shape the solutions in our interests. That was at the heart of my mission to Washington last week. Working for Australia. Building an alliance for a better future, with peace and prosperity that we all share.

Anthony Albanese is Prime Minister of Australia. He will address The Australian/Melbourne Institute Outlook Conference in Melbourne on Thursday.