President Trump to meet with the Australian prime minister, set to discuss critical minerals

Geopolitical & Trade Dynamics - The meeting between President Trump and the Australian Prime Minister focuses on critical minerals, with Australia potentially offering itself as a reliable alternative to China [3] - Trade discussions are complicated by Australia's economic and geographic proximity to China, creating a delicate balancing act [3][7] - The US is pursuing individual trade deals globally, but the current status of a potential trade deal with Australia is unclear [6] Critical Minerals & Rare Earths - Access to rare earths and critical minerals is a key issue, presenting a "golden opportunity" for Australia as China reduces access [1][8] - Australia possesses significant critical mineral resources and could potentially secure a deal to provide access to these resources [9] AUS Nuclear Submarine Deal - Australia seeks to reinforce US commitment to the AUS nuclear submarine agreement, aiming to secure access to US submarines [4] - Concerns exist regarding the US's ability to fulfill its obligations under the AUS deal due to submarine scarcity [4] Diplomatic Considerations - Foreign leaders are wary of potentially problematic meetings with President Trump, aiming to avoid diplomatic missteps [5]