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The federal government and Opposition have appeared unfazed by United States President Donald Trump stumbling over AUKUS.
When asked by a British reporter ahead of a Thursday meeting (local time) with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House whether the two leaders would be discussing AUKUS — the — , Trump responded: “What does that mean?”
After a brief explanation from the reporter, Trump responded: “Well, we’ll be discussing that.”
Pointing to Starmer, he went on to say: “We have another great relationship, and you have too, with Australia. We’ve had a very good relationship with Australia.”
Albanese told reporters on Friday Australia had no reason to be concerned.
“There’s a lot of acronyms in this business and we all get thrown at them from time to time,” Albanese said.
Albanese said Trump’s comments on AUKUS are “consistent” with prior discussions he’s had with the US president, adding that “he went on to speak about the really important and positive relationship with Australia”.
Earlier, Opposition leader Peter Dutton said there was no doubt Trump supported the alliance despite not understanding the acronym.
“Not everyone gets the acronyms, and all the rest of it, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the president strongly supports the alliance between our three countries and strongly supports AUKUS,” he told the Nine network’s Today show.
“He stated that previously and the submarine deal … will underpin the national security of our country for the next century.”
The security pact will see Australia obtain nuclear submarines through a partnership with the US and UK.
Australia will spend up to $368 billion to acquire the submarines, and as part of the first payment of the AUKUS deal.
Employment Minister Murray Watt also dismissed concern about the US president not knowing immediately what AUKUS was.
“I wouldn’t make too much about a president with a very full plate not remembering one acronym. I think all of us go through that sort of thing at different times,” he told ABC Radio on Friday.
“You’ll see there that he was able to say very quickly about the strength of the relationship with Australia and the fact that AUKUS will be something he’ll be discussing with the British prime minister.”
With reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
