“The US-Australia relationship is stronger than it has ever been,” mentioned College of Sydney’s Historical past Professor James Curran.
“Australia is now, in my opinion, locked in to the US’ grand technique in Asia. Australia is giving the US a lot – when it comes to (army) bases in Australia, its capability to retailer defence materials and logistics … so this go to comes at an important time.”
Mr Albanese will meet US President Joe Biden for official talks within the Oval Workplace on Wednesday (Oct 25). He can even foyer lawmakers to move laws crucial for the AUKUS defence know-how partnership.
STRATEGY TO COUNTER CHINA
Earlier this 12 months, Canberra signed a deal to purchase nuclear-powered submarines from the US, as a part of the so-called AUKUS settlement, the trilateral safety partnership the 2 nations share with the UK.
The pact goals to bolster safety cooperation within the Indo-Pacific to counterbalance the perceived risk from Beijing’s rising assertiveness and affect, because the latter woos island nations within the area.
Some political commentators have argued that Canberra has let its guard down in recent times, and will have been paying extra consideration when it got here to addressing China’s intentions within the Pacific.
“We have now seen the Chinese language stitching up offers with island nations proper on our border, the most recent being East Timor a matter of weeks in the past,” mentioned Mr Piers Akerman, a conservative columnist for The Sydney Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
“We actually can’t afford to have Chinese language defensive positions introduced proper as much as our continental shelf and so we actually want stronger – not weaker – ties with the US. We want shoring up and we want reassurance that the Individuals will probably be right here to guard us.”
FEARS OF US DISTRACTION
In the meantime, some observers mentioned there are worries that escalating battle between Israel and Hamas within the Center East may shift US focus away from the Pacific.
“This has been a long-standing concern for US allies in Asia – that America retains on getting pulled again into Europe or again into the Center East,” mentioned Prof Curran.
“We thought that with (former US President Barack) Obama’s pivot to Asia, and Biden persevering with that re-balance of American consideration to this a part of the world, that they had been absolutely centered and energised in coping with China.
“Whereas it isn’t just like the US has taken its eye off the China ball, however the extra that they carry on getting sucked into the vacuum of the Center East and Europe, the much less consideration they may give to this area.”
Mr Albanese has mentioned he’ll focus on the Israel-Hamas battle with US President Joe Biden throughout his go to.
Mr Michael Inexperienced, CEO of assume tank the US Research Centre, mentioned: “Australia has an extended historical past of fairly heavy involvement within the Center East with a variety of experience and information.
“I’m assured when this comes up, President (Biden) and the Prime Minister (Albanese) will probably be aligned and have a robust assertion of unity and solidarity to reveal.”
Different points, together with financial, local weather and vitality initiatives are additionally prone to be on the agenda in the course of the journey.
Whereas occasions domestically and internationally would possibly divert consideration from Mr Albanese’s go to to Washington, it is usually clear that each nations want one another in these unsure instances, observers mentioned.
“Solely a handful of world leaders are invited to the White Home for a state go to every year,” mentioned Mr Inexperienced.
“So (Albanese’s journey) tells you that the Biden administration places a really excessive precedence on the Indo-Pacific, and specifically on Australia as a companion to cope with the rising uncertainty on this essential a part of the world,” mentioned Mr Inexperienced.