US President Donald Trump departs G7 early before meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canada

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s highly anticipated meeting with Donald Trump has been cancelled after the US President decided to leave the G7 summit a day early because of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The White House announced the President’s early departure minutes after Mr Albanese spoke to media in Canada about how his preparations for the planned 20-minute meeting were going.

“Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” Mr Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social media.

Both leaders are expected to attend summit dinners later on Tuesday (Australian time), although it is reportedly unclear whether they are at the same event. They will also attend the G7 “family photo”, which may offer an opportunity for a brief informal discussion, known in diplomatic circles as a pull-aside.

The Israel-Iran conflict had already dominated talks among leaders at the G7 summit

Mr Trump said he had been “in constant touch” with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that he still believed Iran would sign a deal to restrict its nuclear program.

“I think Iran basically is at the negotiating table, they want to make a deal,” he said.

“I think we’re doing pretty well and we’re talking. We have a thing called the telephone, so, we’re talking.”

Before the announcement of his early departure, Mr Trump posted on social media that Iran should have signed a deal earlier.

“What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he wrote.

Mr Albanese had been preparing to speak with Mr Trump about tariffs and the AUKUS pact, which the Pentagon is reviewing to see if it aligns with Mr Trump’s “America First” approach to foreign and defence policy.

Earlier, Mr Trump met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where they signed the trade deal struck a couple of weeks ago relating to the US tariffs.

Facing reporters after the meeting, the leaders were asked if the submarine agreement was still proceeding.

Mr Trump nodded while Mr Starmer said, “Yes, we’re proceeding with that.”

“We did a review when we came into government, so that makes good sense to me. But it’s a really important deal,” the UK leader said.

Mr Trump responded, saying, “We’re very long-time partners and allies and friends and we’ve become friends in a short period of time.”

Mr Albanese described those comments as “very positive”.

“It is in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom’s interests that AUKUS not just proceed in terms of Pillar I, but Pillar II as well. There are great advantages that we have,” he said.

“The sum of one plus one plus one sometimes equals more than three. And it certainly does that in this case.”

He said he had been preparing “seriously” for the meeting with Mr Trump, including speaking with golfing legend Greg Norman, who continues to be a friend of the President and who was integral to Australia making early contact when Mr Trump first won office at the 2016 election.

“I’ve engaged as much as possible, because I think that I have a great responsibility. I take that responsibility seriously, and I look forward to tomorrow’s meeting,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese met Korean president Lee Jae-myung and NATO chief Mark Rutte earlier in the day, confirming Defence Minister Richard Marles would attend the NATO summit later in June.

He will also meet Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba and European leaders on Wednesday.

“These meetings I find very useful. I think that in part, I develop relationships with people by just dealing with them in a straight way,” he said.