Albanese Promotes Data Center Expansion at Amazon Ahead of G7 Summit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to visit Seattle this weekend to promote a multi-billion-dollar expansion of Australian data centers by Amazon. This visit precedes his attendance at the G7 summit in Canada, where he aims to secure a one-on-one meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Albanese's trip comes amidst heightened expectations, as he seeks to bolster trade relations and discuss critical issues ahead of his meeting with Trump.

The Australian leader's visit to Amazon's headquarters on June 14, 2025, is a strategic move to emphasize the strength of the economic relationship between Australia and the United States. Albanese will highlight the importance of free trade and the significant investments made by American companies in Australia. "This sends a signal to the world — and it’s a powerful symbol of Australia and the United States cooperating to seize and shape a new era of prosperity," Albanese is expected to assert during his speech to business leaders, as reported by ABC News.

This engagement with Amazon, which includes plans for new data centers in Sydney and Melbourne, reflects a growing trend among tech giants to expand their infrastructure in response to increasing demand for cloud services and data storage. Amazon has already invested approximately $9.1 billion in Australia over the past decade and committed to an additional $13.2 billion through 2027, as noted by Iain Rouse, Amazon's Vice President in Australia.

During the G7 summit, which will convene from June 15-17, 2025, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Trump will be attending his first major international meeting since his re-election. The summit's agenda will focus on trade and security issues, including the implications of recent geopolitical tensions, notably Israel's military actions in the Middle East. Trump’s attendance adds complexity to Albanese’s efforts, as he competes for the U.S. president's attention amid other world leaders also seeking bilateral discussions.

Historically, Trump’s participation in G7 meetings has been marked by controversy; during the last G7 summit in Canada in 2018, he refused to sign the final communiqué, leading to significant diplomatic fallout. As such, Albanese’s meeting could be pivotal, particularly in light of the ongoing review of the AUKUS submarine pact and calls for Australia to increase its defense spending.

Albanese’s government is keen to reinforce the economic ties with the U.S. as Australia’s largest foreign investment source. The Prime Minister's visit to Amazon may serve as a platform to advocate for the reduction of tariffs on Australian goods, a point of contention in U.S.-Australia trade relations.

Looking ahead, the outcomes of the G7 summit could significantly impact global economic dynamics, especially as leaders grapple with diverging national interests against the backdrop of rising tensions in various regions. The results of Albanese's diplomatic efforts could determine the trajectory of Australian-U.S. relations in the coming years, particularly concerning trade, security, and international cooperation.