Penny Wong talks up ‘warm and constructive’ meeting with new Trump administration
Penny Wong has talked up a “great day” full of productive meetings with the Trump Administration as evidence the President sees Australia as a priority.
On the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency, Australia’s Foreign Minister and ambassador Kevin Rudd met with the new Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a “very warm and constructive” first bilateral meeting, before a meeting with other Quad foreign ministers.
Senator Wong and Mr Rudd also met with the US’ new national security advisor Mike Waltz.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I think across the span of the alliance, there’s a great deal of optimism and confidence about the opportunities ahead, and I am really privileged to have had this level of engagement so early in the new administration,” she said from Washington.
The high-level talks on Mr Trump’s first day dispelled fears that previous comments made by Mr Rudd would put Australia in the diplomatic freezer, with Senator Wong revealing the ambassador’s tenure “did not come up” during their meeting with Mr Rubio.
Senator Wong acknowledged Mr Trump would “do things differently”, but declined to get involved in commentary about what his agenda would mean for Australia.
But, she said Australia was in a strong position to stand on its own two feet and engage with the US when it can.
“We should not be surprised if he implements that agenda,” she said.
“We should also have some confidence in our capacity as a nation to navigate those challenges, to engage with the administration, and to talk through — at very many different levels of the new administration — talk about the issues that are relevant to Australia’s interests.”
The Government is continuing to put the case to Mr Trump that Australia should be exempt from his broad-based foreign tariff agenda.
Senator Wong said she had focused on why the economic relationship was as much a benefit to the US as it was Australia.
“That is recognised,” she said, before pointing to how the former Turnbull Government had navigated Mr Trump’s last tariff agenda.
“What I can say to Australians is that we will work consistently, confidently, with a very clear focus on Australia’s interests to navigate any trade issues.”
On the future of AUKUS, Senator Wong said the takeaway from her meetings was that the Trump administration “understands the strategic imperative around” the trilateral security pact.
Earlier, Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said Australia was in the best position of any US ally to continue a strong relationship with Washington under Mr Trump.
“We know that President Trump has an affection for Australia and admires Australia. We know that many people in his administration, in senior posts, including the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is a fan and a supporter and a friend of Australia. So we should have a good starting point,” he told ABC Radio.
“And we proved in the first Trump presidency that we can navigate his politics and his approach to foreign affairs successfully in a way that strengthens our relationship.”
