Over the past two days, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has actively engaged with world leaders at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Alberta, Canada, underscoring Australia’s growing role in global economic and security affairs.
The Prime Minister participated in a key session on the future of global energy security, where leaders discussed the urgent need to diversify energy sources and fortify critical minerals supply chains.
Australia formally endorsed the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, which aims to boost cooperation in building standards-based markets, mobilising investment, and fostering innovation. This agreement offers promising opportunities for the expansion of Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths industries.
In addition to energy, the summit highlighted innovation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emphasising their potential to drive productivity and economic growth.
Albanese also joined fellow leaders in endorsing the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, a global initiative to improve prevention, response, and recovery from increasingly severe bushfires—a disaster Australia knows all too well.
Reflecting the close firefighting partnership between Australia and Canada, the Prime Minister acknowledged the recent deployment of 97 Australian firefighters to support Canada’s wildfire season, reciprocating aid provided during Australia’s devastating Black Summer fires in 2019–20.
Significantly, Prime Minister Albanese announced the commencement of negotiations with the European Union on a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP). This framework will strengthen cooperation on defence industry collaboration, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism without obligating military deployment. The move signals deepening Australia-EU ties alongside ongoing efforts to finalise a Free Trade Agreement.
At a press conference, Albanese emphasised the importance of Australia’s participation in the G7 as a platform to advance sustainable economic growth and global security. He expressed gratitude to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for hosting and highlighted productive bilateral meetings with leaders from Germany, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, India, South Africa, Mexico, and Italy.
Responding to questions, Albanese addressed the rescheduling of a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump, postponed due to Middle East tensions, affirming ongoing constructive engagement with US officials on trade and tariffs.
On trade, he expressed optimism about concluding the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement, stressing that any deal must serve Australia’s national interest. He also reiterated Australia’s commitment to counter Russia’s war in Ukraine and support the rules-based international order.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa welcomed the new Security and Defence Partnership negotiations, recognising the strategic connection between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
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