THE SQUIZ
Even though many of us have become better acquainted with video conferencing and all manner of virtual communication since the start of 2020, nothing beats some facetime when you need to connect. That’s what PM Anthony Albanese is doing in the coming week as he jets off to India today to press the flesh with movers and shakers in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. And reports say he’ll then head to the US on important AUKUS business.

LET’S START AT THE TOP…
We’re usually a bit suss about transactional relationships, but Albanese has been clear that’s the focus. “Our 2 nations share a rich history bound by our democratic values and enlivened by genuine friendship and fierce sporting rivalry … Yet for all of this, in 2021-22, India was only Australia’s 6th-largest goods and services trading partner. We can elevate that,” Albanese said yesterday. To bolster his case, he’s travelling with a delegation of 25 business leaders, including Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce. With that sort of star power, it’ll be “one of the biggest and most significant” visits to a trading partner, Albanese says. They kick things off at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the next Oz v India cricket match on Thursday (where the MCG’s record attendance for a day of Test cricket is under threat…). From there, it’s onto Mumbai and New Delhi, where talks on security and technology are also on the agenda.

AND THEN ONTO AMERICA?
Allegedly… Reports say he’s heading to San Diego on Monday for a formal announcement with US President Joe Biden and UK PM Rishi Sunak about the building of our fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Our procurement of the high-tech vessels was a big part of the new AUKUS agreement that signalled our joint concerns about the rise of China in our region. And what’s expected to be revealed next week is more information about what sub we’re getting and what role Adelaide will play in building the $100 billion project. It’s a lot of money, but some experts say the threat posed by China is real. For China’s part, Foreign Minister Qin Gang yesterday said there “will surely be conflict and confrontation” if the US doesn’t let the nation take its place in the world. Yikes…