London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at 10 Downing Street, emphasizing the robust economic partnership and trade cooperation between the UK and Australia.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the leaders discussed future prospects for leveraging Australia's critical mineral reserves in sectors such as defense and technology, aiming to generate jobs and investments benefiting citizens in both nations. They reaffirmed their dedication to AUKUS, highlighting its significance in shared security efforts. Additionally, both leaders expressed continued support for Ukraine, with Starmer leading initiatives to unite allies in the Coalition of the Willing.
The meeting followed a historic move by the UK and Australia to recognize the State of Palestine. Starmer stressed the importance of finding a path to cease hostilities, release hostages, and establish lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
In a separate engagement, Starmer met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in London, as stated by the PM office. They praised the strong UK-Canada relationship and discussed recent Russian activities in NATO airspace over Poland, Romania, and Estonia. Both leaders affirmed NATO's unity and readiness to counter further provocations and emphasized increasing international pressure on Russia through financial sanctions to aid Ukraine's reconstruction.
They also showed solidarity with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen following drone incursions into Danish airspace and reiterated the urgency of advancing peace in the Middle East. Starmer highlighted that Hamas must release hostages, agree to a ceasefire, relinquish governance ambitions in Gaza, and commit to disarmament.
The discussions with Carney also covered the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to boost economic cooperation between the UK and Canada.
These talks coincided with the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit in London, which convened discussions on shaping policies to support working people amid global uncertainties.