The leaders of the US, Japan, India and Australia will gather in The American President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware this weekend for discussions aimed at ensuring security in the Indo-Pacific region.
US concerns about China will dominate the talks, along with the AUKUS arrangements that will see Australia acquire US nuclear-powered submarines.
The White House’s National Security Council spokesman James Kirby said China will “certainly be high on the agenda”.
President Biden has taken a more personal approach to the formal gathering by inviting PM Anthony Albanese, Narendra Modi and Fumio Kishida to meet in his home state.
It is “a sign of great friendship” and commitment to continuing to build relationships, Albanese said.
“I see it as the president continuing to do his job as the leader of the United States, a great partner of Australia, and a sign of great friendship that he’s developed with myself, with Prime Minister Modi and with Prime Minister Kishida.”
Albanese will hold what is likely to be his last one-on-one meeting with Biden.
“I have a very close personal relationship with President Biden, which is why I’m very much looking forward to meeting him over the next couple of days,” he said.
Japan’s Kishida also close to finishing his term as leader.
Albanese’s trip will be short.