Penny Wong avoids labelling Trump administration ‘chaotic'
It comes after the US announced it would review the AUKUS defence pact, and called on Australia to confirm what it would do in the event of a China-Taiwan conflict.
When asked by Sky News if she would describe the Trump administration as chaotic — a characterisation made by government insiders — Ms Wong did not confirm.
'I'm not going to get engaged in that sort of commentary,' she said on Tuesday.
Ms Wong has instead pointed pointing to the evolving nature of the US-Australia relationship and her confidence in managing it.
' I understand that this is a time of change, and I was pretty upfront about that … before and after the election.
'President Trump envisages a different role for America and the world, and that does involve a change.'
However, Ms Wong said that Australians should have 'confidence' in the Albanese government's capacity to navigate global diplomacy.
There have been tensions in the US-Australia alliance, exacerbated by past public criticisms of Donald Trump from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ms Wong when in opposition.
In 2021, Mr Albanese labelled Trump's conduct 'anti-democratic' and accused him of inciting violence.
Ms Wong herself said Trump 'undermined American democracy' and was willing to 'trash alliances and partnerships for personal political interest'.
Such rhetoric has been flagged by experts as potentially damaging to bilateral ties at a time when regional security challenges require close cooperation.
Relations have also been complicated by the cancellation of a planned meeting between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump at the G7 summit.
Mr Albanese recently downplayed concerns over the strength of the US-Australia alliance, saying he was 'not worried' about relations with President Donald Trump.
Speaking at Sky News' Australia's Economic Outlook forum recently, he insisted that a meeting with President Trump would take place before the end of the year.
'Well of course we will have meetings, there will be a range of meetings between now and the end of the year with President Trump,' he said.
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