Prime Minister Tony Abbott has paid his respects at the Arlington national military cemetery in the United States where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Mr Abbott previously raised the idea of creating an Arlington-style national war ceremony in Canberra to commemorate the Anzac centenary in 2015.

He visited the US cemetery, which is just outside Washington, and laid the wreath.

“It’s fitting that I should lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier here,” Mr Abbott said.

“I should pay tribute to the Americans who have fought for their country because many of them have been fighting for our country.”

Afterwards Mr Abbott met America’s top brass at the Pentagon.

He was greeted by US defence secretary Chuck Hagel before also holding discussions with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Martin Dempsey.