Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a warm encounter with US President Donald Trump. Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS

Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump will be "best mates" when they next cross paths, a former ambassador to the US predicts as their White House meeting is broadly declared a success.

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The prime minister and president locked in a multibillion-dollar critical minerals deal and firmed up the future of the AUKUS military pact during a warm meeting in front of the cameras in the White House cabinet room early on Tuesday (AEDT).

Mr Trump played up his friendship with Mr Albanes

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