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After meeting his British counterpart Keir Starmer and a host of other centre-left leaders on Friday, Mr Albanese said people in Australia were “concerned about elements of the far-right rising in various countries”. When asked about right-wing populist party Reform UK, and its leader Nigel Farage – who has close ties to the US President – Mr Albanese called the party divisive. “I don’t want to see the rise of populist organisations such as that,” Mr Albanese said. “Parties and governments have to come up with solutions, not seek to divide people.” Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles shut down suggestions that these comments would harm relations with Mr Trump, who is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with Mr Albanese next month. “I think (Mr Albanese) is making it clear that it’s really important that as we engage in democracies, it’s important that we are doing so from a place of correct information and facts,” Mr Marles told Seven’s Weekend Sunrise on Saturday morning. “Between the US, the UK and Australia, obviously, our three countries work very closely together on a range of international matters.” Mr Marles cited AUKUS – the defence pact between Australia, the UK and the US – as an example of the nation’s close relationship, despite the Trump administration undertaking a formal review of the pact in June. “All three countries are working very closely together to see AUKUS move ahead at a pace, and that’s what’s happening,” Mr Marles said. “Yes, the US is doing a review and we welcome that – it is important to look at how we can do AUKUS better. “We’re all committed to AUKUS – it’s something which is underpinned by a trilateral treaty between our three countries.” On Friday morning, Mr Albanese took part in a panel discussion at the Global Progressive Action Conference alongside Sir Keir, Canadian Prime Mark Carney and Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir. The group of leaders discussed how best to counter rising right-wing extremism and anti-immigration sentiment. Mr Albanese is expected to meet with King Charles on Saturday at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
