“Welcome to the White House,” Biden said as he greeted the guests.
When a reporter called out a question about whether Biden should urge Israel to delay its ground invasion of Gaza,the president said Israel would make its own decisions. The two leaders made no other remarks to the media before going inside.
The private dinner was held on Tuesday night in the White House after a day of meetings that includeda $2 billion Australian pledge on finance for miners who export critical minerals and a $20 million Australian commitment for military help for Ukraine.
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The next phase of the state visit will be a formal meeting between the prime minister and president on Wednesday,a press conference and a state dinner with more than 100 guests to be held on the south lawn of White House.
White House officials emphasised the importance of the personal ties between Biden and Albanese when the US focus on the Indo-Pacific region was “right at the top of the list” of American priorities.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Australian visit this week was a sign of the importance of alliances in the Indo-Pacific,adding strategic competitors such as Russia and China could not match the US in building partnerships.