AUKUS ‘must be Kevin Rudd’s priority’

Kevin Rudd will need to clarify his support for the AUKUS agreement early in his role as ambassador to the US and not leave his criticism ‘hanging out there’.

Former PM Kevin Rudd has been announced as our next ambassador to Washington. Picture: AAP

Kevin Rudd will need to clarify his support for the AUKUS agreement early in his role as ambassador to the United States and not leave his criticism “hanging out there”, with experts urging he focus on progressing the deal during his tenure.

Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced Dr Rudd as his envoy in Washington and said he was confident the former Labor prime minister would “conduct himself in a way that brings great credit to Australia”.

The Coalition was quick to stress AUKUS needed to be a priority for Dr Rudd, and urged him to give the deal his “unqualified support and attention”, following comments earlier this year questioning its impact on Australian sovereignty.

United States Studies Centre chief executive Michael Green, who first got to know Dr Rudd while working as an adviser to George W. Bush in the early 2000s, said it was important the former prime minister made clear his support for AUKUS.

“You can’t just leave those things hanging out there. I think any Australian ambassador is going to want to clarify their support … So I would expect some fairly early clarification on that,” he told The Australian.

Dr Green said while Dr Rudd was well known for his expertise on China, it was important he focused on the Australia-US bilateral relationship. “I don’t think the Biden administration is looking for extensive advice on how to manage China, or … about global order,” he said.

“The fact that Kevin Rudd was quite prolific on those subjects provides the context needed to push for progress on the alliance agenda, but … as ambassador, he’ll have to apply more of his stature to some bilateral issues that are huge.

“Getting AUKUS done, taking care of the technology transfers … turning the Quad into an even more substantial grouping (of Australia, the US, India and Japan), activating a climate agenda bilaterally, these are really important issues.”

China mouthpiece The Global Times reported the move showed “Australia prioritised the issues related to China when dealing with its top ally, the US”.

Former foreign minister Bob Carr declared Dr Rudd’s appointment would help “avert war” between China and the US.

“Kevin Rudd, with his knowledge of diplomacy over the Taiwan Strait, with his knowledge of the guardrails and the off ramps that could avert war, and his feel for diplomacy and deterrence in the US-China, brings value,” he told the ABC.

He said even if criticisms of Dr Rudd during his time as prime minister were true, which included accusations of having “explosive outbursts”, such characteristics could make him a more effective ambassador.

Former ALP national president Stephen Loosley said Dr Rudd could “mould his character to suit the tasks which confront him” and help Australia and the US manage the rise of China.