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US President Joe Biden said he was "doubling down" on the alliance with Australia as he welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Oval Office on Wednesday (2am Thursday AEDT), part of a state visit intended to bolster American ties in the Pacific against the backdrop of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
"This is a great honour," Albanese told Biden, after the US President welcomed him to the Oval Office, saying the Australian PM's visit was "a long time coming".
Biden said the leaders would discuss supporting Ukraine, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues after almost two years, and how to "stand with Israel in the wake of Hamas' appalling terrorist attack."
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"Thank you for being here, it's an honour to have you, thank you for your leadership and your personal friendship," Biden said.
The US President again apologised for having to skip his trip to Australia earlier this year, but Albanese put any concerns to rest.
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"Our alliance has never been more important and it's never been stronger," the Australian Prime Minister said.
"In today's uncertain world, the alliance between Australia and the United States and the way that we stand steadfast against aggression – whether it be Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine or whether it be Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel – is something that can be relied upon for us to stand up for our common values, which is why I very much welcome this visit and welcome the co-operation that we're having, as well as our personal relationship.
"This is our ninth meeting in just the 16 months that I've had the honour of being Prime Minister. I look forward to continuing to take the relationship to a higher level, as we do every time we meet."
Albanese arrived at the White House on Wednesday morning as a military band played and 4,000 guests watched from the South Lawn.
Biden said their alliance is characterised by "imagination, ingenuity and innovation," and they will "race undaunted to a future we know is possible if we work together."
Albanese said the "soul of our partnership" is "not a pact against a common enemy," but "a pledge to a common cause."
The two leaders are scheduled to hold a press conference in the Rose Garden after their meeting.
The state visit, only the fourth since Biden took office in January 2021, is a reminder of how he's pursuing long-term plans to counter China's influence even as bloody conflicts in the Middle East and Europe remain the most immediate concerns.
Senior administration officials said Biden and Albanese would be focused on supporting economic development among Pacific island nations, a key arena as the US seeks the upper hand in the region.
The US and Australia plan to work together on building maritime infrastructure and laying undersea cables to strengthen internet connectivity, according to the officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details before they're announced.
There are also plans to have US companies launch space missions from Australia, and Microsoft announced it would spend $US3 billion ($4.7 billion) on cybersecurity, cloud computing and artificial intelligence there.
The initiatives come on top of a previously announced defence arrangement in which the US is developing nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. The collaboration, which also involves the United Kingdom, is known as AUKUS, an acronym for the three countries' names.
"State visits are a big deal," said Charles Edel, a senior adviser and Australia chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
"They're filled with plenty of pomp and circumstance, but they also serve as an opportunity to take stock of critical relationships and push them further forward."
Wednesday's events end with a state dinner in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn of the White House. On the menu will be farro and roasted beet salad, butternut squash soup and sarsaparilla-braised short ribs.
The B-52s, a rock group, were originally scheduled to perform, but they've been replaced by military bands.
"We are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain, so we made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening," first lady Jill Biden said.
The scenes of celebration will be juxtaposed with the crisis in the Middle East, where Israel has increased its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation against Hamas for its October 7 attack.
Hundreds of Palestinians were reported killed in a single day, and more bloodshed is expected as Israel prepares a ground invasion of the densely populated territory.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there's "no more important time than now" to hold the state visit to demonstrate the strength of the US relationship with Australia.
The outbreak of war "doesn't stop the work that the president has continued to do, whether it's these diplomatic conversations, these important bilateral visits, or whether it's domestic issues right here in this country," she said.
Biden has previously hosted the leaders of France, South Korea and India for state visits.
This one is something of a consolation prize for Albanese, after Biden scrapped his plan to visit Australia in May because of a standoff with House Republicans over the debt ceiling.
The decision forced the cancellation of a meeting of the Quad, which includes the US, India, Japan and Australia. A quick stopover in Papa New Guinea was postponed as well.
Albanese touched down in the US late on Sunday, and he visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to commemorate how Americans and Australians have fought alongside each other over the years.
The Bidens welcomed Albanese and his partner, Jodie Haydon, to the White House on Tuesday evening for a private dinner and to exchange gifts.
Albanese is also tending to Australia's relationship with China. He announced on Sunday that he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November. He will be the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years, a reflection of tension between the two countries over trade and security issues.
"It's in Australia's interest to have good relations with China," Albanese told reporters.
Albanese's meeting with Xi would come just weeks before a potential meeting between Biden and Xi during a gathering of Asian leaders in San Francisco. Beijing has not yet announced whether Xi will attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, known as APEC.
China's top diplomat arrives in Washington later this week to meet with top US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Congressional chaos is another complicating factor for Albanese's visit. House Republicans have been unable to settle on a new speaker — a fourth potential replacement emerged on Tuesday, which means it's been impossible to move legislation on Capitol Hill.
When Albanese wants to lobby for legislation, "it's even difficult for him to meet the right person to make the case," said John Lee, a Sydney-based senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.
For Australia, that means critical issues could be left in limbo. Officials in both countries are hoping to streamline rules on weapons exports to improve defence collaboration.
Biden wants $US3.4 billion ($5.4 billion) to expand naval production facilities to help provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. Sullivan described the proposal as "a key component to making our AUKUS agreement a success."
Australia plans to buy up to five US submarines and later build its own. It's the first time in 65 years that the US has shared its nuclear propulsion technology.
But Lee, who worked as a national security adviser to Australia's foreign minister in a previous government, said the two countries are straining to make progress on their plans.
"The US and Australia are not on track," he said of their defence partnership.
