Albanese and Biden stress importance of AUKUS pact amid global tensions

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden have presented a united front amid current global uncertainty after holding talks in Washington.

Albanese arrived at the White House on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) as a military band played and 4000 guests watched from the South Lawn.

The pair later held a press conference during which they reiterated the importance of the Australian-United States alliance in what Biden said was a difficult time, with ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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It was part of a state visit intended to bolster American ties in the Pacific against the backdrop of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Albanese said the relationship between the two nations was one of "trust'.

"I regard the United States as a very reliable partner. I regard the relationship that I have with the President as second to none of the relationships that I have around the world or, indeed, domestically for that matter," he said.

Both leaders also stressed advance the $370 billion AUKUS defence deal between Australia, Britain and the US, under which the Australian navy will acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Albanese said he was confident the US Congress would pass key legislation, enabling the AUKUS pact to proceed despite concerns by some Republican members.

"I have had with Democrats and Republicans that there is very broad support for the AUKUS arrangements and that will be support for the legislation going forward and I think that would be a very good thing," he said.

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"It is in the interests of Australia, but it's also in the interests of the United States and everyone that I have spoken to similarly in the United Kingdom, across the political spectrum, are all supportive of the AUKUS arrangements."

Biden said he was confident the necessary legislation would be passed by the end of his current term of office.

"It is overwhelmingly in our interests," the president said.

That looks more likely after weeks of US political chaos ended with the election of Republican Mike Johnson as the new House Speaker.

The US President said AUKUS was not a threat to China but about maintaining stability in the Indo Pacific region.

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"It is about maintaining stability, stability in the straits, the Indian Ocean, the whole area.

"It is going to increase the prospects for long-term peace rather than anything else."

Biden and Albanese also announced measures to build infrastructure Pacific nations to counter China's growing influence.

They included Australian-US funding to build a new subsea cable to improve internet connectivity in the region.

Albanese acknowledged there was "strategic competition" in the Indo Pacific region.