PM in key talks with Obama, Putin
Tony Abbott will face pressure from Barack Obama to beef up Australia's commitment to the war against Islamic State when the pair meet today ahead of the US President's visit to Brisbane.
After deciding last week to increase US troop presence in Iraq to help locals combat IS at a cost of almost $6 billion, Mr Obama is looking for more support from the coalition of nations - including Australia - to help stop the advance of the terror group.
Ahead of the formal meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in Beijing, which begins this evening, Mr Abbott and Mr Obama will meet for an hour with the threat posed by IS to dominate talks.
Chinese honour guards wait for the arrival of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the Beijing Capital International Airport. Picture: AP Photo/Aaron Favila
Mr Obama, who is due to give a major speech in Brisbane this week as part of the G20 leaders' summit, will also outline his thoughts on America's role in the Pacific region.
Though the talk with Mr Obama will be genial, Mr Abbott faces a more fractious discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, probably tomorrow.
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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and ambassador to China Frances Adamson arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport on November 9, 2014, Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Mr Abbott, who infamously said he would "shirt front" Mr Putin, is under pressure to match his rhetoric by confronting Mr Putin over Russia's role in the shooting down of MH17.
But Mr Putin's top foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov has said the meeting between the two leaders will be short.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a Bilateral Meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on November 9. Picture: How Hwee Young/Getty Images
Any discussion would be only on the sidelines of the formal APEC gathering that will take up much of their time tomorrow.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb said Mr Abbott was doing the right thing by the nation and the 38 Australian victims of MH17 by confronting Mr Putin.
"The Prime Minister … has a responsibility … to represent the Australian people and to ensure those who caused these murders are brought to justice," he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Abbott undermined his position on Russia and MH17 with his short front comment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, 4th left, sits with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, 3rd left, speaking to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, 2nd right, during a bilateral meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Picture: AP Photo/HOW HWEE YOUNG
