'Renewed Chapter': Marshall Islands President Heine Meets PM Albanese In Canberra

Tuesday, 3 February 2026, 3:49 pm
Article: RNZ

RNZ Pacific

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine has met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during an official visit to Canberra - the first Marshallese leader to visit Down Under in more than three decades.

The last visit by a Marshall Islands president occurred in 1993, according to the Australian Embassy in the Marshal Islands.

The Marshall Islands is an independent Pacific nation in a Compact of Free Association with the United States.

Heine's visit marked "a renewed chapter in high-level engagement" between the two nations, her office said in a statement.

It said the discussions between the two leaders focused on climate action and shared regional priorities.

"President Heine further recognised the soontobeopened Australian Embassy in Majuro as a major milestone in the bilateral relationship."

Heine has also extended an invitation to Albanese to visit the Marshall Islands at a future date to "further deepen ties and reaffirm Australia's commitment to the Pacific family".

"The Pacific is our home and our relationships with our neighbours matter," Albanese said in a post on X.

"An honour to welcome the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Dr Heine, to Australia," he added.

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