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| Obama reassures Turnbull US-Australia alliance will transcend 'party politics' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Malcolm Turnbull and Barack Obama have met on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru to discuss trade, regional security and the incoming Trump administration. | Malcolm Turnbull and Barack Obama have met on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru to discuss trade, regional security and the incoming Trump administration. |
| The US president reassured Turnbull that the US-Australia alliance would remain strong and transcended “party politics”. | The US president reassured Turnbull that the US-Australia alliance would remain strong and transcended “party politics”. |
| “I indicated to him my confidence the US-Australian alliance will remain as robust as ever,” he told reporters in Lima. | “I indicated to him my confidence the US-Australian alliance will remain as robust as ever,” he told reporters in Lima. |
| Turnbull had nominated trade and security as key points of discussion during the 50-minute meeting, which was the last bilateral meeting held with Obama at the summit. | Turnbull had nominated trade and security as key points of discussion during the 50-minute meeting, which was the last bilateral meeting held with Obama at the summit. |
| Obama said he would do everything he could to ensure “a strong handoff” in the relationship with the Trump administration. | Obama said he would do everything he could to ensure “a strong handoff” in the relationship with the Trump administration. |
| “It’s not often that I have a meeting and have got nothing to disagree with,” Obama said, adding there was a strong alignment in both countries’ interests. | “It’s not often that I have a meeting and have got nothing to disagree with,” Obama said, adding there was a strong alignment in both countries’ interests. |
| Turnbull said that it was a “great moment but a sad moment” to be meeting with Obama for the last time. | Turnbull said that it was a “great moment but a sad moment” to be meeting with Obama for the last time. |
| “Thank you for the leadership you have shown in your country and the world over eight years,” he said. | “Thank you for the leadership you have shown in your country and the world over eight years,” he said. |
| The pair discussed the fight against Islamic State extremists in the Middle East. | The pair discussed the fight against Islamic State extremists in the Middle East. |
| “Australia has been our most stalwart ally when it comes to troop deployments,” Obama said. | “Australia has been our most stalwart ally when it comes to troop deployments,” Obama said. |
| Strategic issues such as the South China Sea maritime dispute were also discussed. The leaders both trumpeted the merits of free trade and the likely doomed Trans-Pacific Partnership pact. | Strategic issues such as the South China Sea maritime dispute were also discussed. The leaders both trumpeted the merits of free trade and the likely doomed Trans-Pacific Partnership pact. |
| Turnbull also thanked Obama for his cooperation on resettling refugees in limbo on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. So far no numbers and timeframes have been set and it is not clear whether the Trump administration will support the deal. | Turnbull also thanked Obama for his cooperation on resettling refugees in limbo on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. So far no numbers and timeframes have been set and it is not clear whether the Trump administration will support the deal. |
| Turnbull earlier met with the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, where it’s understood migration was among the topics covered along with economic ties, security and defence cooperation, counter-terrorism and youth mobility. | Turnbull earlier met with the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, where it’s understood migration was among the topics covered along with economic ties, security and defence cooperation, counter-terrorism and youth mobility. |
| The discussion comes as the federal government continues to search for third countries to send refugees on Nauru and Manus Island – and with the future of the US deal looking shaky. The exact nature of the migration discussion has not been made public. | The discussion comes as the federal government continues to search for third countries to send refugees on Nauru and Manus Island – and with the future of the US deal looking shaky. The exact nature of the migration discussion has not been made public. |
| The Australian government says it’s in negotiations with a range of countries to accept the refugees in limbo, but has not named specific nations. | The Australian government says it’s in negotiations with a range of countries to accept the refugees in limbo, but has not named specific nations. |
| Canada has been globally lauded for its warm welcome of 34,696 Syrian refugees to its shores in the past 12 months. | Canada has been globally lauded for its warm welcome of 34,696 Syrian refugees to its shores in the past 12 months. |
| Over the same time period Australia has resettled only half of its special intake of 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis fleeing Isis. | Over the same time period Australia has resettled only half of its special intake of 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis fleeing Isis. |
| Turnbull also had talks on Saturday with Malaysia’s prime minister, Najib Razak, and it’s believed “irregular migration” was canvassed. The meeting came in the wake of speculation that Australia was close to a deal with Kuala Lumpur to resettle refugees. | Turnbull also had talks on Saturday with Malaysia’s prime minister, Najib Razak, and it’s believed “irregular migration” was canvassed. The meeting came in the wake of speculation that Australia was close to a deal with Kuala Lumpur to resettle refugees. |
| Labor is unimpressed with the prospect of a deal in the wake of the Coalition blocking legislation for a Malaysia people swap deal in 2011. | Labor is unimpressed with the prospect of a deal in the wake of the Coalition blocking legislation for a Malaysia people swap deal in 2011. |
| Tony Abbott has since retrospectively expressed some regret that as opposition leader he hadn’t allowed the Gillard government to pursue its mandate. | Tony Abbott has since retrospectively expressed some regret that as opposition leader he hadn’t allowed the Gillard government to pursue its mandate. |
| Under the arrangement 800 refugees that had arrived in Australia by boat were to be exchanged with 4,000 verified refugees in Malaysia. | Under the arrangement 800 refugees that had arrived in Australia by boat were to be exchanged with 4,000 verified refugees in Malaysia. |
| Turnbull has played down claims of hypocrisy, saying the most important thing was to achieve “durable” resettlement options rather than make political points. | Turnbull has played down claims of hypocrisy, saying the most important thing was to achieve “durable” resettlement options rather than make political points. |