In a wide-ranging debut before the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday (AEST), Australia's prime minister urged an overhaul of the maligned multinational institution to prevent a further loss of trust.
His appeal for greater international co-operation followed a fiery speech from the US president in which he lambasted nations such as Australia that had recognised Palestinian statehood.
Mr Trump called climate change a "green scam" and the "greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world".
Amid increasing US isolationism, Mr Albanese revived Australia's push for a seat at the UN Security Council and reiterated the nation's bid to host the COP climate conference in 2026.
He warned the US could not be relied on to uphold the international rules-based order on its own.
"The creation of the international rules-based order owes much to the post-war leadership of the United States of America," Mr Albanese told the UN General Assembly in New York.
"For the region Australia calls home, that stability has underpinned a generational economic transformation.
"But we cannot ask - and should not expect - any one nation to uphold the rules or guarantee the security on which all of us depend."
The prime minister said dictators and tyrants were up-ending the global order and, without reform, the UN risked irrelevance.
It needed to make a positive difference in people's lives to prove it was not merely a "final resting place for good intentions", Mr Albanese said.
The security council bid, which was first launched by the Turnbull government in 2015, was supported by the coalition.Â
But Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and foreign spokeswoman Michaelia Cash warned it could not detract from addressing pressures Australians faced at home.
"The coalition will always back Australia's national interest and we stand ready to work with the government in any way we can to help support Australia's bid for a seat at the table," they said in a statement.
Mr Trump has been leaning on America's allies to pull more of their weight on the world stage amid a perception they are too reliant on US support.
Australia has so far resisted calls to lift defence spending from about two per cent to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
The issue could be discussed when Mr Albanese sits down with Mr Trump in Washington on October 20 after months of back-and-forth efforts to secure a face-to-face meeting.
Mr Albanese said Australia was investing in defence, development and diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, where the US has entrusted it to stave off growing Chinese influence.
He said Papua New Guinea would soon become Australia's newest ally, despite a recent bid to sign a mutual defence treaty unravelling during independence anniversary celebrations.
In his speech, Mr Albanese urged the world to embrace clean energy, called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza and supported efforts to secure peace for Ukraine on its terms.
But no mention was made of the pivotal AUKUS deal with the US and the UK, under which Australia would take possession of nuclear submarines.
The US is reviewing the three-country agreement to ensure it aligns with Mr Trump's "America First" agenda.
Mr Albanese next flies to London to meet British counterpart Keir Starmer and King Charles.
