SYDNEY — Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had spoken with Donald Trump on Nov 7 after the Republican's US election win, as Australia's US ambassador deleted comments he previously made about Trump, saying they did not reflect the view of the Australian government.

Albanese said he had spoken to Trump on the morning of Nov 7 about security ties including the Aukus deal, which will see Australia buy US nuclear submarines next decade and develop a new class of nuclear powered submarines with the US and UK.

"We talked about the importance of the Alliance, and the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, Aukus, trade and investment," Albanese wrote.

During Trump's first term as president, Australia's conservative Liberal government grew more hawkish on China and worked to keep the US engaged in the Indo-Pacific region as a counter to China, including through the Quad group of India, Japan, US and Australia.

One potential issue is the relationship between the incoming administration and Australia's ambassador in Washington, former Labor Party prime minister Kevin Rudd.

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