US and Australia sign $8.5 billion critical minerals agreement

US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House on Monday as Washington eyes the continent's rich rare-earth resources when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad, according to AP.

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"In about a year from now we'll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won't know what to do with them," said Trump.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the deal would support a pipeline of $8.5 billion “ready-to-go” projects that would expand his country’s mining and processing abilities. He added that the agreement takes the US-Australia relationship “to the next level.”

Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates and Australia have issued a joint statement on the official visit to the UAE by Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, on September 29th.

On 29 September 2025, during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the UAE, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, met the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Leaders underscored the strong and enduring friendship between their two countries, which has grown since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1975.

In recognition of those ties, the Leaders have decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership.