Sabra Lane, Host: For more on that and the meeting at the White House, the Foreign Minister joined me a short time ago. Penny Wong, thanks for talking to AM.
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.
Lane: Could this meeting have gone any better for Mr Albanese?
Foreign Minister: Look, this meeting was a great success. The President said he loved Australia, he affirmed AUKUS and confirmed that we will get the subs, and of course, Prime Minister Albanese and the President announced an historic critical minerals deal worth about US$8.5 billion. So, this was a very good outcome and reaffirms the approach that the government has taken, a calm, mature approach in the national interest.
Lane: Until recently, the US had sort of a go-slow on Australia's offer of a critical mineral stockpile and an agreement. China recently restricted export of those minerals. Did Beijing's decision convince Washington to sign up?
Foreign Minister: We both have a clear national interest in making sure we can assure the supply of critical minerals. They're important for energy security, they're important for strategic issues, for weapons, for defence industries. So, of course we have a natural affinity in working with each other to assure the supply of these critical minerals. It's good for Australia and it's good for the global markets.
Lane: And China's decision had no influence on this decision?
Foreign Minister: I think we all understand the importance of diversifying our supply chains when it comes to something as important as critical minerals.
Lane: What will a critical minerals deal mean for Australia?
Foreign Minister: It means that we will, with the US, invest in projects, we will have offtake agreements, we will invest in supply. It is about creating additional supplies of these critical minerals which are critical for the 21st century economy and which are so important for national security.
Lane: Mr Trump seems to have given a full-throated support for the AUKUS deal between the US, Australia and the United Kingdom, primarily for Australia to acquire nuclear submarines. How confident are you, given that he's also acknowledged there's been some slow progress on this, that Australia will gain the submarines on the timeline that's previously been explained?
Foreign Minister: President Trump could not have been clearer on the submarines, he was very clear about his support for AUKUS, he was very clear that Australia will get the subs. He was also very clear that the project was on track and how much work we had done as both governments for this project. And let's remember this is about a capability that Australia wants to ensure we can contribute to keeping peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Lane: Just on that, China has again behaved in a very aggressive manner towards Australia's defence forces over the South China Sea. This is the third worrying incident in 18 months. The timing of it, so close to this Trump-Albanese meeting, should anything be read into that?
Foreign Minister: Well, we are clear that this behaviour we regard as both unsafe and unprofessional. We know that China has been also clear in its intent to project its military power into the region. Australia remains very clear. We will continue to operate in accordance with international law, in accordance with our rights around overflight and navigation.
Lane: Previously, Australia has warned China that this is unacceptable behaviour, that it was dangerous and unsafe. These messages have been sent before, even personally via diplomats and I think the Chief of Army. Why does it keep happening?
Foreign Minister: China has been clear of its intent and we are clear about our position. We will continue to operate in accordance with international law.
Lane: How concerned are you that this will lead to an unforeseen hot take between both countries?
Foreign Minister: Part of our representations to China and part of our concern about this behaviour is not only that it's unsafe and unprofessional and we are always concerned – our first concern is always for the safety of the Australian personnel – but we also know that there is always a risk of accident or escalation, which is why we will continue to make these representations. We do believe that asserting our rights under international law, as we have and will continue to do so, is in Australia's national interest.
Lane: Just going back to the White House meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Albanese. On tariffs, the United States has subjected Australia to a 10 per cent tariff on exported goods to the US, is there any movement on that?
Foreign Minister: The first point I'd make is Australia is in the best possible position that we could be under the tariff regime that President Trump's administration has put into place. As the President said, he described our tariffs as low in the meeting overnight with the Prime Minister. Having said that, obviously we have a different position, Australia will continue to engage with the United States in relation to the tariffs.
Lane: So, no movement at the moment?
Foreign Minister: Well, the US has a global position in relation to tariffs. We're in the best position relatively that we could be, obviously Australia remains a country that does believe in open, predictable trading markets.
Lane: There was an awkward moment in the meeting with Mr Rudd. Kevin Rudd's previously been a vocal critic of Donald Trump. Mr Trump said, "I don't like you" to Mr. Rudd. Do you feel for Mr. Rudd?
Foreign Minister Look, I think those comments were clearly tongue-in-cheek. I'm very pleased that the meeting has been such a success. That is a good thing for our country. It's extremely good to have this critical minerals deal backed in and it's extremely positive for the country to have the President so supportive of AUKUS and the delivery of the submarines, which is an important capability for us.
Lane: So, water off a duck's back for Mr Rudd?
Foreign Minister: Well, Kevin did an extremely good job, not only in getting the meeting, but doing the work on the critical minerals deal and AUKUS. And the meeting reflects, the success of the meeting reflects that work.
Lane: Minister, thanks for talking to AM this morning.
Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you, Sabra.