Shortly before his arrival, several Republican congress members allied with Donald Trump issued a public letter warning that recognizing Palestine ‘may invite punitive measures’. United States Studies Centre director Jared Mondschein expressed that this move could become a contentious issue between the Albanese government and the Trump administration, suggesting it shouldn’t be overlooked. Albanese described Australia’s recognition, alongside Canada and the UK, as part of international efforts to reinvigorate the two-state solution.

Albanese noted that the international community has delineated clear expectations for the Palestinian Authority, which includes holding democratic elections and implementing significant reforms in finance, governance, and education. He emphasized that ‘the terrorist organization Hamas must have no role in Palestine’. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has managed to resolve differences with the US president on the issue.

Mr. Mondschein speculated that Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump might also resolve their differing opinions on the matter. Albanese aims for a personal meeting with Mr. Trump; however, no talks have been scheduled. Speculations about a weekend meeting before the UN event were countered by news of the president’s attendance at the funeral of right-wing American commentator Charlie Kirk in Arizona on Sunday.

The prime minister was supposed to meet with the US president at the G7 summit in June, but Mr. Trump left early to address Middle East violence, leaving Albanese without a meeting. Since then, a bilateral meeting has become a lesser priority for Albanese, especially after the US spared Australian goods from an August tariff hike, keeping them at the baseline 10 percent—the lowest rate among American trading partners.

Still, important discussions loom beyond the US-Australia bilateral relationship, particularly concerning security concerns and strategic competition in the Pacific. Mr. Mondschein remarked that if Australia and the United States, as closest allies, align on this issue, it could influence other regional allies positively. Upon his arrival at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, Mr. Albanese highlighted the importance of Australia’s global role, stating, ‘What we want to see is increased peace, security, and stability around the world,’ to the reporters.

‘We are a country that play a positive role in our region, in the Pacific, as well as of course … our traditional allies such as our Five-Eyes partners including the United States and the United Kingdom.’ The letter from Republican members of Congress, including former presidential nominee Ted Cruz, claims the recognition of Palestine would undermine prospects for peace and reward terrorism. ‘Proceeding with recognition will put your country at odds with long-standing US policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response,’ it read.

Their statement is just days after a UN inquiry branded Israel’s offensive in Gaza as an act of genocide against Palestinians. Australia has condemned the denial of aid and killing of civilians in the territory. Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign and throttling of aid has killed 65,000 Palestinians and left 641,000 people at risk of catastrophic levels of starvation, local health ministry and UN sources have found. Israel’s recent offensive was rolled out after designated terror group Hamas killed 1,200 civilians and took about 250 more hostage.