Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia

President Obama spoke with Australian Prime Minister Abbott last night to discuss the situation in Iraq, the Ebola epidemic, and the upcoming G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia.  The President thanked Prime Minister Abbott for Australia’s significant efforts in Iraq, where both countries are working to help Iraq strengthen its security forces and are conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.  The two leaders also agreed that the international community must act boldly and quickly to arrest the Ebola epidemic.  President Obama thanked Prime Minister Abbott for the financial contributions Australia has made to the Ebola response effort and they discussed additional commitments.  The two leaders committed to closely coordinate on these and other national security priorities.  They also looked forward to the G-20 Summit, which Prime Minister Abbott will host in Brisbane in November.