Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, touting his country's abundant critical minerals as a way to loosen China's grip over global supplies.

At the same time, Albanese is hoping to secure Trump's backing for a 2021 pact to arm Australia with silent, nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Australians have a mostly unfavourable view of the Trump administration, polling shows, though the country relies on the United States to balance China's expanding military clout in the Pacific region.

In the run-up to the White House talks, Australia is selling itself to Washington as a future source of critical minerals including rare earths -- of which China is by far the world's largest supplier.

Australia sits on deposits of lithium, coba

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