US President Joe Biden says the White House is “considering” Australia’s request to drop espionage charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in what would be a major breakthrough in his years-long ordeal.

The US wants Assange, 52, on charges of allegedly leaking classified military documents, which Assange says was an act of journalism.

In February, federal parliament moved a motion, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calling for Assange’s return to his homeland.

On Thursday (AEST), Biden was asked at the White House if he had a response to Australia’s request to end Assange’s prosecution.

“We’re considering it,” Biden said.

Assange’s wife Stella jumped on the President’s words and urged Biden to “do the right thing. Drop the charges” in a post on X.

On Thursday morning, Albanese said it was an “encouraging comment from President Biden”. He said Australia had been engaged at the highest diplomatic levels and he had personally pushed for Assange’s release.

“I believe this must be brought to a conclusion and Mr Assange has already paid a significant price, and enough is enough,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

“There’s nothing to be gained by Mr Assange’s continued incarceration in my very strong view and … that is the view of the Australian government.”

Assange has been locked up in Britain’s Belmarsh prison for five years, fighting extradition to the US. He was charged in 2019 for publishing confidential military records supplied by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

Before that he was holed up in the Ecuador embassy in London for seven years, avoiding extradition to Sweden on rape allegations that he also denied (and which were later dropped).

Assange’s extradition to the US was put on hold in March after London’s High Court said the US must provide assurances he would not face the death penalty.

US prosecutors want to try Assange on 18 counts, all bar one under the Espionage Act, over WikiLeaks’ release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. In total he could face a jail sentence of 175 years.

After Britain gave the go-ahead for Assange’s extradition last year, his lawyers in February launched a final attempt in the English courts to challenge that decision.

Tweet from @wikileaks

The Australian union representing journalists, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, wrote to the Albanese government on Thursday in response to the news.

“We are writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to take immediate public action to demand the United States government drop the charges against Julian Assange so he can resume life as a free man in Australia,” federal president Karen Percy said.

“As we draw closer to the US presidential election, the opportunity for a satisfactory resolution to this case diminish.”

Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the White House. Photo: Getty

Japan’s AUKUS ties confirmed

Also on Thursday, Biden confirmed the US, Japan and Australia would develop a new air missile defence network.

Meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden touted increased joint military co-operation, strengthening the alliance with an eye on actions by China and Russia.

“This is the most significant upgrade in our alliance since it was first established,” Biden said at a joint White House news conference with Kishida.

Kishida said the two leaders also discussed tense relations between Taiwan and China, and pledged to uphold international order based on the rule of law.

“Unilateral attempts to change status quo by force or coercion is absolutely unacceptable, wherever it may be,” Kishida said.

The US and Japan would continue to respond to such actions, including challenges from China, he said.

“Regarding Russia’s aggression of Ukraine … Ukraine today may be east Asia tomorrow,” Kishida said.

The announcements from Biden and Kishida brought the two old World War II enemies into their closest collaboration since they became allies decades ago.

Biden said the two nation’s militaries would co-operate with a joint command structure and they would, together with Australia, develop an air missile defence network.

-with AAP