Australia PM to Visit Brunei, Malaysia in Renewed Fuel Diplomacy

f2[(ns1grk38v3tobo8}b186_media_dl_1.png Australian Department of ClimateArticle content(Bloomberg) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make his second visit to Southeast Asia in less than a week as he tries to shore up fuel supplies against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentAlbanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday depart for Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, and then Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in a four-day diplomatic effort, they said in a statement. The prime minister was in Singapore on Friday to ensure that two-way energy supplies remained secure.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentAustralia is highlighting mutual dependence with Southeast Asian fuel suppliers to ensure deliveries continue, with the quid pro quo that it will do the same with liquefied natural gas and coal. Albanese’s center-left government has prioritized bolstering ties with the region to limit China’s sway and increase Australia’s influence.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentAustralia is now leveraging those relationships as it sits at the tail end of a long supply chain for crucial fuels. Ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations are even more important as US foreign policy grows increasingly unpredictable under President Donald Trump.Article contentAlbanese and Wong are due to meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia.Article content“I have very good relations with both of them, and we have good country-to-country relations,” Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp. TV on Monday.Article content“The investment, frankly, that we have made in building up our relationships with Asean countries over the last four years, this is why you engage with partners,” he said. Article contentBrunei supplies 9% of Australia’s diesel and 11% of its fertilizer-grade urea imports, while Australia is a key supplier of food and agricultural products to the sultanate, according to government data. Malaysia is Australia’s third-largest source of refined fuel and supplies 10% of fertilizer-grade urea, while Australia provides 95% of Malaysia’s imported natural gas.Article contentTrump announced plans for a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz hours after the US and Iran failed to reach a deal in talks in Pakistan, jeopardizing hopes of turning a fragile ceasefire into a lasting end to the war. Albanese said the US had not asked Australia to participate.Article contentOn Monday, he urged a resumption of peace talks between the US and Iran.Article content“We want to see an end to this conflict,” Albanese said. “It’s having a devastating impact on the global economy, and the longer it goes, the bigger the impact will be, and the longer the tail will be as well.”Article contentTrending GFL Said to Near Deal to Buy Secure Waste for Over $4.3 Billion PMN Business Posthaste: More Canadians desperate for tax refund to plug holes in their finances News Oil Tankers U-Turn in Hormuz as US-Iran Talks Break Down PMN Business These forces could push up Canada's home prices later this year: FP Video News Trump's Hormuz Blockade Risks Piling Pain on Asia Allies, China PMN Business Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. GFL Said to Near Deal to Buy Secure Waste for Over $4.3 Billion PMN Business Posthaste: More Canadians desperate for tax refund to plug holes in their finances News Oil Tankers U-Turn in Hormuz as US-Iran Talks Break Down PMN Business These forces could push up Canada's home prices later this year: FP Video News Trump's Hormuz Blockade Risks Piling Pain on Asia Allies, China PMN Business