US President Donald Trump has decided not to visit Australia and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in Papua New Guinea in November, choosing instead to visit France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World War I.
The decision will be a disappointment to the Australian Government but the Prime Minister Scott Morrison will almost certainly hold his first meeting with the President during the G20 Summit in Argentina at the end of November.
Trump’s decision not to attend key Asia summits will also be greeted with disappointment across the region, where it will be seen by some as sending a negative message about US commitment to the Indo‑Pacific.
Trump will miss the APEC summit in Papua New Guinea on November 17 and 18 and also the Asian and East Asia summits in Singapore several days earlier.
The White House had been planning for a short visit by Trump to Australia if he chose to travel to attend the summits.
He was invited to visit Australia earlier this year by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
[Source: The Australian]
