Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles’ trip confusion puts new spotlight on US ties

The world of diplomacy is complicated.

But doing business with the Trump White House seems to be more complicated than it should.

And that just serves to raise questions about the performance of our own leaders when they deal with their US counterparts.

The latest to have a less than straightforward encounter was Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minster, Richard Marles.

Mr Marles’ snap visit to the US gave rise to claim and counter claim which clouded its purpose and outcome.

Amid ongoing concerns about our defence ties with the US Mr Marles said at the weekend that he was travelling to Washington DC to meet Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

As it turned out he also met Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Mr Hegseth attended the end of the meeting between the Defence Minister and Mr Vance after being in a three-hour Cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Earlier today, the Pentagon reportedly said that “there was not a meeting, it was a happenstance encounter” with Mr Hegseth.

But chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell subsequently told The Nightly that the engagement was planned.

“Secretary Hegseth welcomed the opportunity to meet in person with Deputy Prime Minister Marles for the third time this year,” he said.

“Their meeting at the White House on Tuesday was coordinated in advance.”

Mr Marles also took part in round table discussions with defence industry companies.

They are strange days indeed for our most crucial alliance.

It is understood Mr Marles had cleared his schedule late last week to make the dash to Washington.

After the meetings Mr Marles said the alliance with the US “is longstanding, built on our shared history of deep collaboration”.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to building on this partnership with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.”

But the seemingly less than smooth schedule raised concerns about its effectiveness.

Shadow defence minister Angus Taylor questioned whether the issue of Australia’s defence spending and American expectations for it to increase was properly addressed during the meetings.

Mr Taylor asked whether the meeting with Mr Hegseth was “just a photo opportunity or was there an outcome beyond the photo”.

Mr Marles’ last face-to-face meeting with Mr Hegseth was in Singapore in May.

The Secretary of Defense had used the opportunity to request Australia increase its military spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product — up from 2 per cent.

And of course Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Trump have still not met face to face.

They are strange days indeed for our most crucial alliance.

And it all adds up to inescapable concerns about the health of that relationship.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-In-Chief Christopher Dore