Anthony Albanese's Quad Summit on the brink of collapse after Joe Biden's ... trends now
Anthony Albanese was blindsided by a 4.30am call from US President Joe Biden which could derail his entire Quad leader's summit, which was to be held at the Sydney Opera House next week.
The high-stakes diplomatic meeting could be on the verge of collapse amid reports both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida are reconsidering their travel plans on the back of President Biden's decision.
Mr Biden is in the middle of crucial debt ceiling talks with congressional leaders and cannot miss the final stages of negotiations to raise the US's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit.
Mr Biden called Mr Albanese first at 4.30am on Wednesday to confirm he'd have to pull out of the Quad leaders summit due to be held in Sydney on May 24. He will still attend the G7 in Japan this weekend.
The debt ceiling matter must be resolved by June 1 or the US will default on its debt for the first time in its history - and the week of the Quad summit is the last opportunity to reach a resolution.
The high-stakes diplomatic meeting could be on the verge of collapse amid reports both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida are reconsidering their travel plans on the back of President Biden's decision
Just hours prior to his conversation, Mr Albanese had said he was confident the President would make it to Australia.
President Biden was due to give an address to a joint sitting of Parliament on May 23 - the first of its kind in nine years - and host a bilateral meeting with Mr Albanese discussing the climate and clean energy transition before the Quad summit itself.
Since the revelation President Biden would not be in attendance, The Australian reported both India and Japan's prime ministers, Modi and Kishida, are reconsidering their travel plans.
Mr Albanese said discussions would take place with both leaders in the next 24 hours regarding the next steps for the summit. He is hopeful both will still attend, and that the US will send a senior representative, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the place of President Biden.
Despite his disappointment, Mr Albanese told ABC Sydney Breakfast that 'President Biden emphasised the importance of the Quad' and is 'very disappointed at some of the actions of some members of Congress and the US Senate' which have made it impossible for him to attend.
