Katina Curtis: Albanese’s victory with Trump sets high bar for future

In an alternate world, you would be reading right now about Donald Trump attacking Australia’s low Defence spending levels and threatening to withhold submarines, complaining bitterly about American beef farmers being dudded and eviscerating Kevin Rudd to the point where the ambassador’s job was untenable.

Instead, Anthony Albanese will return to Australia triumphant after a long-awaited meeting with the mercurial President.

The worst fears of those around him and in the media were never realised – even a crack at Dr Rudd was low-key and taken by at least half of those present as a joke.

Months of preparation went into the critical minerals deal struck in the White House cabinet room.

Much effort was put into smoothing the way for the AUKUS deal that Mr Trump – finally – gave a resounding endorsement. Remember Richard Marles’ speedy, secretive trip to Washington in August?

The timing of China putting export controls on critical minerals was also fortuitous.

Perhaps the best preparation will prove to be Mr Albanese having spent a week on a beach in Palau with a pile of papers and no other work distractions.

And he almost certainly owes a four-pack of Albo ale to whoever briefed the President on the Australian relationship.

Some in the Prime Minister’s orbit, including former Washington ambassador Kim Beazley, thought the meeting shouldn’t happen while key questions around AUKUS were still up in the air.

Mr Beazley says while he was “wandering around being worried”, Mr Albanese never betrayed anything but confidence in his ability to win the President over.

Just as happened in May, the Prime Minister – who says people have always underestimated him – proved his self-confidence was well placed.

But also like that election victory, the bar for future engagements has now been set as high as a Nina Kennedy pole vault.

We’re only nine months in to the Trump presidency. That bar will need to be cleared many more times.