Earlier this year, both Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa found themselves unexpectedly caught off guard during their visits to the Oval Office.
Ramaphosa has emerged as a possible leverage point in negotiations aimed at securing an exemption for Australia from hefty U.S. tariffs—50% on steel and aluminum, along with a standard 10% tariff.
Defense expert Michael Shoebridge suggests another advantage for the prime minister: the multitude of pressing issues occupying Trump’s attention.
“Trump has a packed agenda, and when it concerns Australia, it simply means he’s not very invested,” Shoebridge explained in his commentary for the Lowy Institute following the announcement of the meeting.
“This likely implies that he won’t concentrate as heavily as anticipated on his Australian guest or the differences that concern us,” he added.
“In the landscape of 2025, this is indeed favorable news.”
