Greg Moriarty Appointed Australia's New Ambassador to the US
Greg Moriarty, formerly the Secretary of the Department of Defence, has been appointed as Australia's new Ambassador to the United States, succeeding Kevin Rudd. This appointment marks the first non-political selection for the ambassadorship since Dennis Richardson concluded his term in 2010.
Kevin Rudd Concludes Tenure, Takes on New Global Role
Kevin Rudd is stepping down from his position as Australia's Ambassador to the United States at the end of March, having served for three years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Mr. Rudd's decision to conclude his term a year earlier than initially planned.
Mr. Rudd is set to become the global president of the Asia Society, an international relations think tank, where he will also head its Centre for China Analysis. He has expressed his intention to continue focusing on US-China relations, which he considers central to global stability.
During his ambassadorship, Mr. Rudd's contributions included advancing the AUKUS security pact, facilitating the release of Julian Assange, and fostering bipartisan relationships within the United States. He also facilitated cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths, aligning with US interests to address China's market dominance, which involved a $3 billion agreement. His tenure also included working to ensure Australia was informed about potential outcomes from upcoming US-China meetings and maintaining bipartisan support for AUKUS in the US Congress.
His period as ambassador included an encounter with former US President Donald Trump in October, where Mr. Trump reportedly told Mr. Rudd, "I don't like you, and I probably never will." This statement followed public re-circulation of Mr. Rudd's past criticisms of Mr. Trump.
Greg Moriarty Appointed Ambassador to the US
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the appointment of Greg Moriarty as Australia's next Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Moriarty's recommendation followed consultation with the Trump administration, adhering to standard diplomatic procedure.
Mr. Moriarty will assume the ambassadorship during a period that includes discussions of US tensions with some Western allies regarding topics such as Greenland, tariff campaigns, and comments by former President Trump on NATO-allied troops in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Albanese stated that Mr. Trump's initial comments on Afghanistan were "not acceptable" but acknowledged a subsequent revised statement from Mr. Trump.
This selection represents the first non-political appointee to the role since Dennis Richardson concluded his term in 2010.
A Career in Defence and Diplomacy
Greg Moriarty has served as Secretary of the Department of Defence since 2017. His distinguished career also includes ambassadorships to Indonesia (2010-2014) and Iran (2005-2008).
He held senior counter-terrorism roles, including Australia's inaugural Counter Terrorism Coordinator in 2015. He also served as Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and was previously attached to the United States Central Command during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Mr. Moriarty's background in defence and national security is cited as particularly relevant concerning the future development and implementation of the AUKUS agreement, which he oversaw during his time in the defence department. Both government and opposition figures, including Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, have welcomed his appointment.
The Selection Process
Prior to the announcement, the Australian government considered various candidates for the ambassadorial role. Analysts had suggested a preference for a career public servant or an individual with strong security and intelligence knowledge, rather than a high-profile political figure.
Among the names reportedly considered were former ministers and senior public servants, including career diplomat Justin Hayhurst. Stephen Conroy, a former communications minister, had also been considered but later withdrew himself from consideration.
Geopolitical Landscape for the New Ambassador
The change in Australia's ambassadorship to Washington occurs as discussions surround former President Trump's anticipated first presidential visit to China in nearly a decade.
A US National Security Strategy document has recently highlighted China's economic rise, Taiwan's semiconductor production and strategic location, and the importance of deterring conflict over Taiwan as a US economic priority. The document also noted that one-third of global shipping passes through the South China Sea.
In a separate development, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit Australia in March to address federal parliament. Prime Minister Albanese has expressed agreement with Mr. Carney's recent assessment at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he characterized the international rules-based order as undergoing a "rupture."