Commitment to upholding International Rules of the road, including freedom of navigation. Just this past week, the prc vessels acted as dangerously and unlawfully as our philippine friends conduct a routine mission in their own exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea. I want to be clear, i want to be very clear. The United States defense commitment to the philippines is ironclad. The United StatesDefense Agreement with the philippines is ironclad. Any attack on the filipino aircraft vessels, our mutual Defense Treaty with the philippines. And, mr. Prime minister, today we renewed our commitment to defend the values at the heart of this alliance, and we continue to stand as one to forge a Better Future for both of us and all the region. So i want to thank you again for being here. Thank you for your partnership, and your leadership in this critical moment. And id like to now turn it over to you. Well, thank you very much, mr. President. Australia and the United States have stood together for more than a century, and its indeed a great honor for me to stand alongside my friend, President Biden, here today. The heart of our alliance, the enduring values that our people hold in common, faith and freedom and democracy. I believe in an opportunity, a determination to build a more prosperous and peaceful world. Those values are timeless, and they have never mattered more than right now. Thats why the relationship between australia and the United States has never been more important. And it of course has never been stronger than it is right now. We Work Together to promote peace and security across the indopacific, to uphold the stability which has generated unprecedented Economic Opportunity for the nations and the people of our region. For australia, this is about investing in our capabilities and investing in ourship today, President Biden and i discussed the progress being made on australias acquisition of nuclear power, conventionally armed submarines, which we announced with Prime Minister rishi sunak in march in san diego. We are conscious that this is only the second time in history that the United States has shared this technology, and this speaks to the deep trust of our alliance and the significance of the challenge that we face together. Australia appreciates the administrations efforts to operationalize and work with congress to pass legislation needed to realize our augus ambitions. I appreciate once again, mr. President , your call for this legislation to be passed this year. It will drive innovation and cooperation to provide the United States, australia and the United Kingdom with improved capability to help secure peace and stability in the indopacific. Our corporation is unlocking transformative opportunities for jobs and skills and research from virginia to South Australia to western australia. Australia and the u. S. Have a strong and growing partnership in new technology from Medical Research to ai, and i join President Biden in welcoming microsofts 5 billion additional investment in australia which we announced this week here in washington. The president and i agree that innovation is vital to addressing the environmental challenge of Climate Change and seizing the Economic Opportunities of clean energy. The Climate Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation compact we signed in may in hiroshima is very much central to this. Climate change and clean Energy Becomes the third pillar of our alliance, alongside our Security Cooperation and our strong economic ties. For the two countries to advance climate and clean energy this decade, both at home and globally new missions under the contract to support our energy transition, including the establishment of a Clean Energy Industry council comprised of business and Public Finance leaders to advise government on Clean Energy Industry development and cooperation. Were working closely with the United States to build endtoend sustainable, reliable and transparent Supply Chains for Critical Minerals. Of course australia has abundant supplies of those Critical Minerals that will drive our which is throughout this century. Lithium, cobalt, copper, and rare earths. We want to connect that with american markets, investors and technology in a way that creates new jobs and opportunities for industries and workers in both of our nations. Cheap e Cleaner Energy will reduce costs for households but it will also power a new generation of manufacturing. Our alliance is delivering for the indopacific region bilaterally, and increasingly with our partners in the quad. Australia and america supporting the connectivity of the region, and today we announced new funding for cables in the pacific, further support for infrastructure development, including efforts to increase the pacific, and well Work Together through a Pacific Banking Forum to ensure that our friends in the pacific maintain access to the Global Financial system. Today we also discussed their joint position, opposing russias illegal and immoral. Australia stands with ukraine, and President Biden welcomed the package of further assistance that i announced yesterday. This will provide ukraine with additional Military Assistance utilizing the Innovative Technology thats produced by australias Defense Industry partners. Finally, of course, last night and again today, we spoke about the situation in israel and gaza. Australia unequivocally condemns the terrorism of hamas. We grieve for the loss of every innocent life whether that be israel or palestinian. In times of crisis, respect for International Humanitarian law is paramount. It is a recognition of our common humanity, and i commend the president for his leadership that he has shown and the example that he has set. Today i announce that australia will provide an additional 15 billion in humanitarian assistance for civilians in gaza. This adds to the 10 million australia has already committed and will help deliver life saving assistance such as Emergency Water and medical services. The friendship between australia and the United States was forged in hard times. Weve served and sacrificed together in the course of peace. We have helped each other through natural disaster. Australians and americans share a rich history. But we always have our eye on the future. Were united by a determination to overcome the challenges we face, and we share an ambition to seize those opportunities which lay ahead of us. As is indeed an alliance in which we celebrate what we have achieved up to now, but we focus on the future, a future of great opportunities, one thats stronger because of this alliance. We can take a few questions now. Mr. Garrison, usa today. Thank you, mr. President , and Prime Minister, welcome to washington. Mr. President , i want to ask about the conflict, the war in the middle east. 24 u. S. Troops have been injured during ten drone or Rocket Attacks on bases in iraq and three in syria over the past week. Youve told iran to, quote, be careful as the administration tries to prevent the israelihamas war from expanding into a larger middle east conflict. But should americans be worried that the war already is escalating . And after you answer that question, i would like one more follow up, please. Look, we have had troops in the region since 9 11 to go after isis and prevent its reemergence in the region. Having nothing to do with israel at all. My warning to the ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with israel. Let me ask my follow up here. Your conversations with Prime Minister netanyahu, obviously youve known for decades, and you had a very emotional trip there last week to israel. Have you sought assurances from him that he will hold off on the Ground Invasion into gaza until the safe release of the hostages can be assured, and of course those include ten unaccounted for americans. No, what i have indicated to him is that if thats possible to get these folks out safely, thats what he should do. Its their decision, but i did not demand it i pointed out to him, if its real, it should be done. Thank you. Are these hostages in jeopardy if there is a ground you want to make a speech . No, look, obviously theyre in jeopardy. The question is whether or not theres any way o out. And if you get them out, we should get them out. Prime minister, albanese, welcome to washington. President biden cancelled his may trip to australia because of Debt Ceiling Talks in congress to avoid a first ever default here in the u. S. , more recently congressional action has stalled as House Republicans try to pick a speaker. However, it does appear since we now hear that the house has elected a congressman mike johnson from louisiana to that role. Are you worried that the gridlock in washington will hold up the transfer of Nuclear Powered subs to australia as part of the aucus agreement, and are you worried the dysfunction makes the u. S. A reliable partner . I regard the United States as a very reliable partner and i regard the relationship i have with the president as second to none. Other relationships that i have around the world or indeed domestically, for that matter. Its a relationship of trust. And i think this symbolizes that. I got to make president my newest Vice President just next door here some years ago, and im very confident in the discussions that ive had with democrats and republicans that there is very broad support, and there will be legislation going forward, and that would be a very good thing. Its in the interest of australia but also in the interest of the United States, and everyone that i have spoken to similarly in the United Kingdom, across the political spectrum are supportive of the arrangements. We in australia managed to get it so we get one question each. Good try, but channel 10 australia. Aucus is in many ways, your creation. Prime minister albanese has gone all in. Can you give a personal guarantee that you can get all the necessary legislation through congress, and lock in this deal, essentially future proofing it before the end of his president ial term . Do you know anyone in Elective Office can give a personal guarantee it happens . We would like you to try. Im going to try, and i believe it will get done. Last week we requested 3. 4 billion in supplemental funds and maintenance to meet u. S. Needs and also support aucus. Australia is making a significant investment in the United States and its ability to produce submarines as part of its deal, and more importantly, its important that Congress Move quickly and the fact is and im confident that we can get this done because you remember when we put the deal together, the response of democrats and republicans in the United States, the response around the free world was this is a very very good thing. The question is not if, but when. Were likely to have a new speaker. I hope thats true because we have to get moving. We have to get moving, and so im confident that were going to be able to get the money for aukus because its overwhelmingly in our interest. When i was asked when we put together the deal, i was asked by xi jinping, were we just trying to surround china . I said, no, were not trying to surround china, were making sure the seas remain open, unilaterally be able to change the Rules Of The Road in terms of what constitutes International Airspace and water space, et cetera. Thats what this is all about. Its about making sure we have a close and its in addition to the fact that we put together the quad, which they didnt like. The quad is a very important piece as well. Its about maintaining stability in the taiwan strait, the indian ocean, that whole area, and i think its going to increase the prospects for longterm peace rather than anything else. Pbs, ms. Lopez. Mr. President , thank you. If i may, i have a breaking news question, and then an israel one. First, after 22 days, House Republicans just elected mike johnson of louisiana as the Speaker Of The House. Johnson advocated Conspiracy Theories about Voting Machines and a rigged election in 2020. He encouraged his colleagues to join a lawsuit to invalidate the results of four states, so if you win reelection in 2024, are you worried that a speaker johnson would, again, attempt to overturn the election . No. Why not . Look, just like i was not worried that the last guy would overturn the election. There are about 60 lawsuits all the way to the supreme court, and every time they lost. I understand the constitution. Reporter in the 18 days since hamas killed 1,400 israelis, the hamascontrolled Gaza Health Ministry says Israeli Forces have killed over 6,000 palestinians including 2,700 children. Youve previously asked netanyahu to minimize civilian casualties, do these numbers say to you that hes ignoring that message . What they say to me is i have no notion that the palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. Im sure innocents have been killed, and its the price of waging a war. I think we should be incredibly careful. I think israelis should be incredibly careful to be sure theyre focusing on going after the folks that are proagating this war against israel, and i have no confidence in the number that the palestinians are using. Reporter thank you, mr. President. Prime minister, albanese, youre traveling to china early next month. President biden has said china should expect extreme competition from the United States. Do you support extreme competition with china, and what does that look like for you . We have strategic competition in our region. Thats a fact that we are living with. The relationship with china is one where the principle that i bring with it is to cooperate where we can. Disagree where we must, but engage in our national interest. Its in australias interest as well as china but i believe in the global interest for us to have a relationship where there is dialogue. And hence i welcome the fact that i have been invited to china. Ill be traveling at the same time as we will commemorate the 50 years of first visit of an australian Prime Minister to china in a short period of time now. And i think that is a positive thing. It is good that there is senior representatives in the u. S. Administration have had meetings with their chinese counter parts in recent times because dialogue is always a good thing. Through dialogue comes understanding, and comes a diffusion of tension. We want a peaceful and secure region, but we want one as well thats based upon the rule of law, and where national sovereignty, including issues such as the South China Sea and the Rite Of Passage in that important waterway there that is the china sea, the taiwan straits is respected. And that is australias position. We cooperate very much with the United States on those matters. And on others. But i look forward to a constructive dialogue when i visit shanghai and beijing. Extreme competition was not conflict. Read the whole paragraph. I talked about were going to compete with china on every way, according to International Rules, economically, politically and in other ways, but not, im not looking for conflict. Jeff chambers from the australian. President biden, as mentioned, promised, your administration has raised deep concerns over a very long period of time about the Chinese Communist governments aggressive coerc