The appointment of Kevin Rudd as Australia’s next ambassador to the United States continues the tradition of strong Australian representation in Washington by people who have served at the highest levels of politics.
The retiring ambassador, Arthur Sinodinos, in his quiet, methodical and utterly competent way, has steadily advanced Australia’s interests to the high point last year of the AUKUS defence pact. Before him, senior figures from both sides of politics, such as Joe Hockey, Kim Beazley and Andrew Peacock, were successful in the role – in large part because they had experience at the highest political levels in Canberra. But this is the first time that Australia has appointed a former prime minister.
Kevin Rudd will take up the posting as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.Credit:Bloomberg
Rudd’s appointment will be welcome in America, where he is highly regarded. He has, for the past two years, been the president of the Asia Society – the most influential foreign policy think tank on Asian affairs. His knowledge of the Indo-Pacific, and of China in particular, is widely acknowledged and greatly respected.
One small but revealing recent example of Rudd’s reputation is the decision by the Council on Foreign Relations – the inner sanctum of the East Coast foreign policy establishment – to choose Rudd to write the lead article for the recent edition of Foreign Affairs, which was devoted entirely to commentary on China. Foreign Affairs is the most influential organ of the American foreign policy community; the journal of choice in which, over the years, thought leaders such as George Kennan and Henry Kissinger chose to publish.
As I argued in this newspaper two months ago, at a time when the question of how to deal with China is the most important single issue facing America’s political leaders and policymakers, it is in Australia’s interests to have as our ambassador someone whom they acknowledge as one of the most authoritative analysts of Chinese foreign policy in the English-speaking world. It guarantees Australia will have an influential voice in every important discussion about China, and the Indo-Pacific more generally. While we might hope that would be the case anyway, it cannot be taken for granted. Washington is as tough a town as they come; a middle power like Australia has to earn its place in the inner sanctums of policymaking by bringing something of value to the table. This, Rudd can certainly do.
The Biden administration chose admired public figure Caroline Kennedy to be its ambassador in Canberra.Credit:Brook Mitchell
Never has that been more important than right now, in the early shaping days of the AUKUS pact. AUKUS was a huge diplomatic achievement and a strategic game-changer for Australia. But we are, by far, the smallest among the three participating nations. It is crucial that the complex decisions that will be taken within the AUKUS framework in the coming months and years – not just the selection of submarine type, but the choice of other projects among the so-called “Pillar 2” AUKUS capabilities (AI, hypersonics, quantum computing, undersea warfare and others) – be those most beneficial to Australia.
Then there are other complexities, such as operational protocols, assignment of intellectual property, and negotiating the suspension of the US regulations that restrict the sale of armaments (“ITARs”) which are inconsistent with seamless co-operation among the three AUKUS nations. Australia has to have the influence within the American system to ensure that we are not overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the US side and made subservient to its preferences. It will take a strong ambassador, whose knowledge and authority Washington will respect, to do that.
Start spreading the news: Rudd is the right choice for US ambassador
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20.12.2022
The appointment of Kevin Rudd as Australia’s next ambassador to the United States continues the tradition of strong Australian representation in Washington by people who have served at the highest levels of politics.
The retiring ambassador, Arthur Sinodinos, in his quiet, methodical and utterly competent way, has steadily advanced Australia’s interests to the high point last year of the AUKUS defence pact. Before him, senior figures from both sides of politics, such as Joe Hockey, Kim Beazley and Andrew Peacock, were successful in the role – in large part because they had experience at the highest political levels in Canberra. But this is the first time that Australia has appointed a former prime minister.
Kevin Rudd will take up the posting as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.Credit:Bloomberg
Rudd’s appointment will be welcome in America, where he is highly regarded. He has, for the past two years, been........
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