Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is currently attending a significant “Quad” meeting in the United States, where leaders from the US, Australia, India, and Japan convene to address regional security and cooperation. On Wong’s visit, her meetings included substantive conversations with US Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio. They discussed plans for an eventual meeting in Australia between Australian PM Anthony Albanese and former President Donald Trump.
Wong’s conversations came against the backdrop of increasing global geopolitical tension, underscoring the need for cohesive action between Quad partners. The meeting was held in the backdrop of increasing competition and tension, especially in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. This scenario further underscores the need for more robust coalitions.
AUKUS and Defense Cooperation
It was great to have a 45-minute conversation with @marcorubio. In their conversation, she underscored the relevance of the AUKUS agreement for Australia, the US, and the UK. The AUKUS pact, which deepens Australia’s defense and security cooperation with the U.S. and U.K., continues to be a bedrock of Australia’s foreign policy. To Wong’s delight, she and Rubio were on the same page about how critical it was.
“We both understand the importance to both our countries and to the United Kingdom.” – Senator Penny Wong
Wong pointed to Rubio’s failure to advocate for an increase in Australia’s own defence budget during their conversations. It’s important, first, because the US has been pressing Australia to increase its defense spending up to 3.5 percent of its GDP. Getting to this goal would mean an annual increase of about $40 billion. The absence of such an announcement from them in their discussions might be due to an assumed strategic choice given continued negotiations over AUKUS continue.
Regrets Over Missed Meetings
In her conversations, Wong conveyed that the Trump administration wished they had set up a meeting between Albanese and Trump. This meeting was originally planned to happen on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Wong admitted that it was a sad situation to be in and underscored the leadership empathy felt by both teams.
“He expressed his regret for the fact that the meeting had to be rescheduled.” – Senator Penny Wong
Wong managed to communicate a nuanced appreciation for the tremendous burden the president carries, especially with respect to decades-old problems in the Middle East. She stated, “I obviously said we completely understood; I think the world understood the president had a fair bit to do.”
This acknowledgment highlights an effort to maintain diplomatic relations amidst scheduling conflicts that have kept Albanese from meeting Trump face-to-face since his election win eight months ago.
Navigating Domestic and International Challenges
While Wong works to steer these conversations, at home Australia has a number of pressing issues that risk undermining its path to positive international engagement. The scrutiny surrounding defense spending continues to be a contentious topic as the government balances public expectations with international obligations.
Wong’s dialogues with Rubio come at a crucial time when Australia’s major defense partnership with the UK and the US is under review by the Trump administration. This major AUKUS review, directed by former Trump administration official Elbridge Colby, has been quite skeptical on a number of important aspects of AUKUS.
The purpose of Wong’s meetings are to reinforce that alliance. They address timely and pressing issues due to both external and internal turmoil.
