Obama to visit Australia

[Gareth Forwood]

From SMH

Barack Obama will visit Australia in March.

The White House announced early today that the US President would add Australia to his trip to Indonesia and the Pacific island of Guam.

"This trip is an important part of the President's continued effort to broaden and strengthen the partnerships that are necessary to advance our security and prosperity," press secretary Robert Gibbs told Washington media.

He said the visit to Australia would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the US-Australia alliance during which Mr Obama is expected to discuss with Kevin Rudd a range of issues including global economic recovery, climate change and green energy, nuclear non-proliferation and Afghanistan.

Mr Gibbs said the President was "looking forward to commemorating that milestone" and would be alert to ways that the two nations could build on their strong relationship.

The President will be accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama.

En route to Indonesia, the couple will visit Guam, where the US has a major military presence.

In Jakarta, where Mr Obama lived as a boy with his mother and step-father in the early 1970s, he is expected to formally launch the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership.

Exact dates are being finalised but the trip will occur in the second half of March, according to Mr Gibbs.

Prime Minister Rudd extended an invitation to Mr Obama to visit Australia when the two men met in Washington late last year.

Mr Rudd had called on the President after attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad.

This morning, Mr Rudd's office issued a statement welcoming Mr Obama's visit.

"President Obama will be a most welcome guest in Australia on his first official visit," it said.

"Australia’s relationship with the United States of America is our most important international partnership.

"We are allies, we are trading partners, and we cooperate on the international challenges confronting all nations

"Our formal military alliance, the ANZUS Treaty, has been in force for nearly 60 years.

"The president’s visit will underline the strength and breadth of the relationship."

Not happy about it being the latter half of the month, I head to USA on March 15...