US President Joe Biden has been forced to postpone the Australian and PNG legs of his trip to the Asia-Pacific to deal with ongoing dramas at home.
President Biden was due to join Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the leaders of India and Japan at the Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney next week.
He had also accepted an invitation to address federal parliament.
However, a battle with US Congress over the country’s debt ceiling will see the President return home early amid fears the US will default on its debt if a deal isn’t reached.
The President rang Anthony Albanese this morning to deliver the news.
“President Biden called me this morning to discuss his upcoming visit to Australia. The President apologised that he would now have to postpone this visit,” Mr Albanese said.
The President is still expected to attend the G7 Summit in Japan before returning home.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil admits the news is disappointing.
“We understand that he’s going to be needed back in the States. The Prime Minister is going to see the President, I think next week when he visits Japan so they will get to catch up then,” Ms O’Neil told Seven.
“We really look forward to welcoming President Biden when is able to make it back here, hopefully very soon.”
