Albanese defends his decision to not attend the NATO summit.

Defense Minister Richard Marles will be attending the NATO summit in Washington DC next week, a move that has sparked some criticism against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Marles confirmed that he will be present at some of the events during the summit, which will take place from July 9-11. Although Australia is not a member of the NATO treaty organization, it is considered an "observer nation."

Marles' office released a statement yesterday saying, "As a non-NATO member, Australia shares a commitment to peace and security with NATO partners, including support for Ukraine against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion." The Deputy Prime Minister's attendance at the 75th NATO Summit highlights Australia's dedication to advocating for our region's strategic priorities and upholding the global rules-based order, while also advancing our security, economic, and trade agenda.

However, the government's decision to send Marles instead of Albanese to the summit has been met with criticism. Opposition leader Peter Dutton expressed his disapproval, stating that it goes against the national interest. In response, Albanese explained, "I made a decision a while ago, and we decided to send Richard Marles, who is our defense minister, as you just heard. While the prime minister will not be present, Australia will still have representation at the summit."

The summit is expected to address various international situations, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ongoing tensions between the West and China, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It is crucial for Australia to have a presence at this summit, as we share a commitment to peace and security with our NATO partners.

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