Complex and potentially worsening problems across the world, from terrorism to disease outbreaks and economic challenges, dominated phone talks between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday.
The leaders, who will play key roles at next month's G20 meeting in Brisbane – Mr Obama as the most senior world leader and Mr Abbott as close ally and chair of the economic grouping – talked for about half an hour.
A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott said the discussions covered "the situation in Iraq, the Ebola epidemic and the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane".
"The President thanked Australia for its efforts in Iraq and continued commitment to disrupting and degrading ISIL [Islamic State]," she said. "They agreed that the international community needed to act swiftly to arrest the Ebola epidemic and the President thanked the Prime Minister for Australia's contribution to date.
"The US and Australia will continue to co-ordinate closely on both these matters and other national security priorities. The Prime Minister said he looked forward to welcoming the President to Brisbane in November for the G20."
The pair are expected to see each other before the G20 when they attend this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Beijing.
This is expected to be the forum at which Mr Abbott also comes face to face – or should that be shirt to shirt – with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of the issues discussed on Wednesday, it is likely Australia's role in the difficult "hands-off" war in Iraq was among the most thoroughly covered, especially as Australian special forces commandos have still not deployed in their "advise and assist" mission to help Iraqi forces defeat the Islamic State militants.
Cabinet's National Security Committee met on Wednesday morning to map out Australia's special forces mission in Iraq which is now imminent.
