While Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend this year’s gathering in the Peruvian capital of Lima, he was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.
Albanese raised the Gaza and Ukraine wars during the talks, while officials negotiated outside the leaders’ final session to prepare the final statements. As with last year, the officials understood that Russia and China could veto any mention of Ukraine in the final declaration.
Albanese raised the Gaza and Ukraine wars during the talks.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
While APEC was established as an economic forum, it has taken positions on geopolitical issues in the past, including a statement condemning terrorism after the September 11 attacks on the US in 2001.
The summit ended with a strong statement on the need for fair and open trade, sending a message to US president-elect Donald Trump about his stated plan to impose 60 per cent tariffs on China and 20 per cent tariffs on other countries.
Albanese backed the statement on free trade, confirming a longstanding position at APEC against trade barriers, and many other countries took the same position.
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The leaders did not name Trump in their talks, according to sources who spoke on condition they were not named, but many of their concerns about tariffs were directed at the incoming US administration.
“We acknowledge the importance of, and will continue to work to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable trade,” the leaders said in their final declaration.
David Crowe is chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
