US President Obama Grateful For Australia's Help in Iraq, Ebola Outbreak
United States President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott discussed the Ebola outbreak, fight against ISIS in Iraq, the G20 and other world issues over the phone. According to reports, the two world leaders will play significant roles in the G20 summit in November in Brisbane. Mr Obama holds greater influence as the most senior leader, while Mr Abbott will chair the economic grouping. The discussions lasted for about half an hour.
As reported by SMH, a spokesperson for Mr Abbott said the discussions covered the Iraq situation, Ebola epidemic and the G20 summit as the main topics. Mr Obama had thanked Mr Abbott for Australia's contributions in Iraq and its continued effort to fight ISIS militants. Both of them had agreed that there is a need for the international community to take immediate action to control the Ebola epidemic.
Mr Abbott's spokesperson said both the U.S. and Australia will continue to coordinate closely on both issues and others concerning national security. Mr Abbott is looking forward to welcome Mr Obama in Brisbane for the G20. Reports said both are expected to meet before the G20 summit when they attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing, China. The APEC summit is expected to the event where Mr Abbott and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be facing off.
The prime minister is reportedly unfazed by a recently released video of an Australian teen threatening him and the coalition forces. The young male teen had appeared in a propaganda video threatening the people of America, Britain and Australia. The boy who called himself Abu Khaled warned the coalition that nothing will harm ISIS militants because Allah is with them. The threatening video was published one day after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had announced Australia will be sending its special forces to Iraq to help fight ISIS.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had accused the U.S.-led airdrops of aiding ISIS militants. In a report by the New York Times, Mr Erdogan said the U.S. had accidentally helped the extremists instead of the Kurdish forces fighting in the Syrian town of Kobani. Mr Erdogan had previously said he was opposed to any assistance provided to Kurdish fighters since they had ties with separatist groups.