Labor has been suspected of “laying the groundwork” ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following a bilateral weapons deal.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has flown to Washington DC to discuss a joint partnership between the US and Australia.

Australia and the United States, alongside Lockheed Martin Corporation, signed a Joint Statement of Intent in Washington DC for the Albanese government to invest up to $21 billion over the decade to establish a sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

Mr Conroy denied the agreement had anything to do with the upcoming meeting between Mr Albanese and President Trump.

Mr Conroy said that weapons manufacturing would begin by the end of the year.

While the Defence Industry Minist

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