Australian PM Albanese Seeks EU Defence Pact, Free Trade Progress

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed cautious optimism about renewing free trade discussions with the European Union during his visit to Rome, coinciding with Pope Leo XIV's inauguration. While he downplayed the likelihood of an immediate breakthrough or major announcements, Albanese emphasized that Australia is "up for a deal" that aligns with the nation's interests, referencing the Australia-UK free trade agreement as a potential model. The stalled negotiations since 2023 were partly due to Australia's rejection of previous EU proposals, which fell short on agricultural product terms and faced opposition from local farm groups. Albanese underscored Australia's commitment to free and fair trade but reiterated that the country would not agree to any deal "at any price." The meetings with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aim to renew leader-level dialogues, although significant progress is not expected in the short term.