Kevin Rudd will conclude his tenure as Australia's Ambassador to the United States at the end of March, a year earlier than initially planned. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Mr. Rudd's resignation, noting it was the ambassador's decision. The announcement has initiated discussions regarding potential candidates to fill the diplomatic post, with a focus on individuals with strong security knowledge or public service backgrounds.
Ambassadorial Departure
Kevin Rudd, a former Australian Prime Minister, is set to depart his role as Australia's ambassador to Washington at the end of March. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the departure was Mr. Rudd's decision and thanked him for his service in advancing Australia's interests with its security ally. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong also acknowledged Mr. Rudd's contributions, stating he had served the nation well. Mr. Rudd was appointed to the ambassadorial role by the Albanese government in March 2023. Multiple officials, including Minister Wong and Mr. Rudd himself in a social media post, referred to his service length as "three years," while other reports noted his departure was a year earlier than initially planned.
Key Contributions and Tenure Highlights
During his time as ambassador, Mr. Rudd's contributions included advancing the AUKUS security pact and fostering bipartisan relationships within the US political landscape. He also played a role in discussions regarding a potential future US administration led by Donald Trump. Mr. Rudd had previously deleted social media posts critical of Mr. Trump. During a press conference for a critical minerals agreement, Mr. Trump reportedly told Mr. Rudd, "I don't like you, and I probably never will."
Mr. Rudd facilitated cooperation on rare earths and critical minerals, which aligned with US interests. This included a $3 billion critical minerals and rare earths agreement between the US and Australia, aimed at addressing China's market dominance in these sectors. The AUKUS agreement, which he worked to advance, maintained bipartisan support in the US Congress during his ambassadorship. Australia also currently benefits from low and less disruptive tariffs with the US.
Future Role and US-China Dynamics
Following his departure, Mr. Rudd will assume the role of global president of the Asia Society, an international relations think tank, and head its Centre for China Analysis. He stated his intention to continue working on US-China relations, viewing them as central to regional and global stability. The Asia Society's Centre for China Analysis is expected to be a significant platform for this work.
The broader context of US-China relations includes recent assessments from the US National Security Strategy document, which referenced China in discussions about past US economic policy failures and Taiwan's semiconductor production and strategic location. The document also noted that one-third of global shipping passes through the South China Sea and emphasized the importance of deterring conflict over Taiwan, ideally through military overmatch, as a US economic priority.
Search for a Successor
The Australian government plans to announce Australia's next ambassador to the United States "in due course." Prime Minister Albanese indicated a preference for a candidate with "the right skills" and broad support. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash commented that it would have been "prudent" to announce a replacement concurrently with Mr. Rudd's resignation, given the current global environment.
Analysts suggest the next appointment may favor a career public servant or an individual with strong security and intelligence knowledge, rather than a high-profile political personality. This approach is considered potentially advantageous given the current political environment in the US.
Potential Candidates
Various figures have been mentioned as possible successors:
- Senior Public Servants:
- Greg Moriarty: The current Secretary of the Department of Defence. He previously served as chief of staff to Malcolm Turnbull and as ambassador to Iran and Indonesia. Appointed defence secretary in 2017, he has detailed knowledge of the AUKUS agreement. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed support for Moriarty for the position.
- Justin Hayhurst: A career diplomat who recently concluded his tenure as ambassador to Tokyo and has held senior public service roles in Australian embassies in China and the Philippines.
- Former Ministers:
- Joel Fitzgibbon.
- Stephen Conroy, who previously criticized a US president, has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role.
- Don Farrell, the current Trade and Tourism Minister, stated he is content in his current role.
- Other Notables:
- Former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan.
- Former opposition leader Peter Dutton has been advocated for by Joe Hockey.
Prime Minister Albanese did not comment on the possibility of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison being considered for the role.