From the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump spoke glowingly regarding the bilateral relationship with Australia.
"We've been enduring partners and I would say there has never been a stronger ally," Trump stated to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, during their inaugural formal discussions.
"We fought wars together and we never had any doubts," he said.
However, Australia, possibly for the initial occasion throughout its existence, is noticing growing apprehension.
The US has historically been seen as its primary partner, the ultimate ally.
Prior to Albanese boarding the aircraft to Washington for the meeting - which he's been desperately trying to arrange for several months - he remarked it represented a crucial chance to "reinforce and enhance" the connection.
"Australia and the United States have collaborated closely during all significant wars for over a century," he declared publicly.
"This administration is clearly fraying certain longstanding, assumed certainties regarding the dependability of the United States as an ally," an analyst, from the Lowy Institute, told the BBC.
The initial Trump presidency was a challenge for Australia – and few here expected his second term would differ significantly. The electoral contest earlier this year was in many ways hijacked by concerns regarding how potential leaders would manage relations with President Trump.
Economic Tensions and Security Uncertainties
Trump has frustrated Australia through comprehensive tariff measures, establishing import duties of 10% on most of its goods - 50% for aluminium and steel - perceived as a breach of longstanding trade arrangements.
"These are not the actions of a friend," Albanese said when announced.
Then came reassessment of the significant Aukus security agreement, revealed in June to jolts of panic in Canberra.
Publicly, Australian officials remained steadfast in professing its confidence that the arrangement - providing Australia with cutting-edge nuclear submarine technology in return for help countering China in the Asia-Pacific - would go ahead. Typically expected for incoming administrations to review their predecessor's decisions, officials noted.
However, protectionist statements - along with the fact that America encounters difficulties with submarine production - made some nervous about potential cancellation or modification, threatening to leave Australia vulnerable with trouble brewing in nearby waters.
Relationship Strains
And then there was Albanese's long battle to arrange discussions with Trump – perceived by some legislators and media commentators as a snub.
An awkward encounter between Defence Minister Richard Marles and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth in recent months didn't help. Marles had met Hegseth in August to advocate for Aukus, however the US side released - and later retracted - a communication indicating no formal discussions, only "a happenstance encounter".
In the end, the meeting on Monday went as well as reasonably expected for the Australian leader.
He leaves the White House with both Trump's praise and a deal promising US investment in developing Australia's critical minerals industry, which is hoped to challenge Chinese dominance of that market.
Albanese also got reaffirmed support for the security pact, in effect ending the prolonged reassessment.
He didn't receive a public dressing down – though Kevin Rudd, previous prime minister who was critical of Trump prior to becoming ambassador to the United States, was awkwardly confronted with the president telling him "I don't like you either.
Persistent Issues
The tariffs remain a gripe but are at the lowest rate of any country, and in fact some Australian sectors, like beef, seem to profit from the global upheaval.
While the Aukus review was a scare it eventually proved unfounded.
However, these developments and other factors, such as Trump's unpredictable treatment toward other partners, has generated increased distrust of the US.
"For the first time during my career, a significant political faction benefited in the last election from slightly distancing itself from America," Mr Roggeveen said of Albanese.
Polling differs, however surveys indicate limited Australian support for Trump, and fewer Australians believe America is a reliable ally during his administration.
And yet, recent surveys show that regardless, approximately 50% of citizens think the nation needs its alliance with the US more than ever.
"Acknowledging that Trump presents challenges, Donald Trump is unpopular. It's different to identify replacements for America currently," research center analyst Jared Mondschein told media representatives.
Regional Security Concerns
Ahead of the meeting in Washington on Monday, military aircraft encounters from the Chinese and Australian militaries highlighted continuing regional security concerns.
China, Australia's primary trade partner, has initiated a huge military build-up causing Australian concern, and a whole host of others, nervous.
Mr Roggeveen says there is a belief amongst Australia's political and security experts that the country cannot defend itself independently, if necessary - though he is among a minority group with contrasting views.
Many point to Pacific nations as a critical line of defence - evident through Australian efforts to secure agreements with multiple nations - while a few voices argue that China represents a potential security partner, rather than an adversary.
"But there's a view... that the only reasonable course for Australia is pursuing strengthened ties with the United States," Mr Roggeveen says.
"Numerous partners and partners throughout the region are grabbing for limited-term American leadership rather than enduring Chinese governance," Mr Mondschein adds.
So while Australian perceptions about the US is changing, challenging to envision it greatly straying from the path it is on in the near future.
