Australia and US Strengthen Ties with Rare Earths Deal and Aukus Confirmation
WASHINGTON D.C. – Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former US President Donald Trump have finalized a deal to bolster the supply of rare earth minerals, critical for advanced technologies, as the United States formally confirmed its commitment to the Aukus defense agreement. The announcements,made during a meeting between the two leaders,signal a deepening of strategic and economic ties between the two nations.
The rare earths agreement aims to diversify supply chains away from China, which currently dominates the global market for these essential materials. This move comes as the US seeks to secure reliable access to resources needed for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and defense applications. Simultaneously, the US reaffirmed its dedication to Aukus, a trilateral security pact with Australia and the United Kingdom, designed to counter growing regional challenges.
During a press briefing following the meeting,the conversation shifted to ongoing international conflicts. Trump stated his belief that Ukraine could still win its war with Russia,though he expressed skepticism,saying,”Anything could happen. War is a very strange thing.” He further asserted that the recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was partly enabled by the US decision to possibly strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling it “one of the great military maneuvers of all time.”
Addressing a question about the fragile ceasefire – briefly breached Sunday when Israel targeted southern gaza in response to what it termed a “blatant violation” by Hamas – Trump said the US is “taking a lot of steps to maintain peace.” He emphasized that Hamas must “behave,” adding, “if not, we will have to eradicate them if we have to.”
When pressed to clarify “we,” Trump clarified that American troops would not be deployed on the ground. He noted that numerous countries have endorsed the ceasefire agreement and indicated that Israel is prepared to intervene, but has not yet received authorization from the US.
