WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is welcoming his first foreign leader of the new year, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, for talks that will cover the Islamic State militant group and a 12-nation Pacific Rim trade agreement that includes their countries.
Other global, regional and bilateral issues are also on Tuesday’s agenda for meetings the White House says will cover the “extraordinary breadth” of the U.S.-Australian alliance.
Turnbull is on his first visit to the U.S. since taking office last September. Obama will welcome him to the Oval Office before continuing their talks over a working lunch.
Last week, as Turnbull prepared for the trip, Australia said it was among 40 countries being pressed by the U.S. to boost their military contributions in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State after the deadly terrorist attack in Paris in November. But Australia told the U.S. that its commitment would remain largely unchanged.
Australia has six jet fighters based in Dubai flying missions against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria. It also has soldiers in non-combat roles in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.