Prime Minister Tony Abbott has met with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White House for wide-ranging talks that covered defence, security, trade, climate change, the Group of 20 agenda for economic growth and tensions in Europe over Russia’s incursions into Ukraine.
After the business side of the high-level meeting was over, the pair greeted the press pack waiting outside and were relaxed and jovial in each other’s company.
Mr Abbott said he had to stop by Honolulu to refuel on his way home and the President remarked, “You work too hard Tony.”
“You should try and get a surf in while you are there.”
Mr Abbott presented the President with an official gift from Australia – a nine foot Malibu surfboard. The pair joked that it was too big to fit into the oval office.
Tony Abbott meets with Barack Obama in what was reportedly the most high-powered meeting, afforded rarely to world leaders on visits to Washington.
“There are a handful of countries in the world that we always know we can count on, not just because they share our values, but we know we can count on them because they’ve got real capacity,” the President said.
“Australia is one of those countries. We share foundational values about liberal democracies and human rights, and a world view that’s governed by international law and norms. And Aussies know how to fight, and I like having them in a foxhole if we’re in trouble. So I can’t think of a better partner.”
“We don’t have a better friend in the world, as well as the Asia Pacific region, than Australia. They are a treaty ally. We cooperate on a whole range of issues. Historically, there hasn’t been a fight that the United States was in that Australia wasn’t standing shoulder to shoulder with us.”
Not only did the US President extend the planned one hour meeting with the PM, he brought in six of his most senior Cabinet members and several advisors, including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry.
