Anthony Albanese has warned against the rise of populism and the far right ahead of his in-person meeting with Donald Trump next month, saying governments should "not seek to divide people".
The Australian prime minister made the comments during a flying visit to London on Friday, local time, in which he met his British counterpart, Sir Keir Starmer, among other world leaders.
Mr Albanese was all smiles when he snapped a quick selfie with the US president while in New York earlier this week.
But on Friday he struck a more serious tone when asked about the rise of Reform UK, a right-wing populist party, and its leader Nigel Farage, who has a close relationship with Mr Trump and has previously campaigned with him.
Many opinion polls have indicated a surge in support for the group in Britain, although it won just five seats out of 650 in the country's lower house of parliament at last year's general election.
"I don't want to see the rise of populist organisations such as that," Mr Albanese said, when asked about Reform on Friday.
"Parties and governments have to come up with solutions, not seek to divide people."
Mr Albanese is due to meet the US president in-person in Washington DC on October 20.
Mr Trump's critics accuse him of stoking division in the United States, and putting at risk long-standing relationships with close allies like Australia.
The US president's brand of politics and most devoted supporters — sometimes referred to collectively with the acronym MAGA — has its roots in right-wing populism.
Mr Trump and Mr Farage have similar positions on several issues, including particularly hardline immigration stances.
On Friday, Mr Albanese said people in Australia were "concerned about elements of the far right rising in various countries".
"Our job is to make sure that people continue to have faith in the system," he said.
Mr Albanese flew from New York, where he'd addressed the United Nations general assembly, to London on Thursday, local time.
On Friday morning he took part in a panel discussion at the Global Progressive Action Conference alongside Sir Keir, Canadian PM Mark Carney and Icelandic PM Kristrún Frostadóttir.
The group of centre-left leaders, who've all won elections in the past 18 months, compared notes on their victories.
While the group did not direct their remarks at Mr Trump's MAGA movement, they did discuss how best to defeat domestic populist opponents, amidst cost of living crises and rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
It was a show of solidarity after Mr Trump's criticism of the UK, Australia and Canada, which all announced they would recognise Palestinian statehood — something Iceland has done since 2011.
Later on Friday, Mr Albanese held meetings with Kemi Badenoch, Britain's conservative opposition leader, and the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez.
Mr Albanese is due to have an audience with King Charles III on Saturday at Balmoral Castle — a royal residence in the Scottish highlands.
On Friday, the Australian PM reaffirmed his support for the AUKUS defence partnership which he described as being "in the interests of all three nations" involved.
