US President Donald Trump signed a deal on rare earth minerals Monday with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and said Washington's key ally would get its coveted nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came to the White House Monday offering cheaper access to the continent’s rare earth minerals and an invitation to visit to play golf. President Donald Trump gifted his fellow world leader a pledge to not only honor a Biden-era agreement on nuclear-powered submarines,

From the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump waxed lyrical about his country's friendship with Australia. "We've been long-term, longtime allies and I would say there's never been anybody better," Trump told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at the pair's first official meeting.

President Donald Trump and Australian PM Anthony Albanese sign a critical-minerals agreement. The two leaders described the treaty as an $8.5 billion deal between allies that Albanese says takes "to the next level" the two countries' relationship.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has praised the Prime Minister’s first official meeting with US President Donald Trump as a diplomatic success that delivered tangible results for Australia.

The deal is a key objective for the US as the Trump administration seeks to move away from dependence on China.

President Donald Trump on Monday voiced support for the AUKUS security pact that would sell Virginia-class submarines to Canberra. During a White House meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,

The US and Australia have signed a multi-billion-dollar pact to expand access to rare earths — vital materials for defence and technology — as China tightens export controls.

Despite the awkward confrontation, the meeting between Trump and Albanese was deemed successful, with the two leaders signing a $2 billion rare-earth minerals agreement.