Caroline Kennedy gives nothing away in first day on job
US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy says becoming Joe Biden’s top diplomat in Canberra is ‘one of the most important days of my life’.
US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy says becoming Joe Biden’s top diplomat in Canberra is “one of the most important days of my life” as she prepares to meet Anthony Albanese.
Ms Kennedy was short on content after being officially welcomed as the US Ambassador on Monday, allowing only four questions at a formal media event and providing answers of little substance.
The daughter of John F. Kennedy was welcomed to the US Embassy in Canberra with a smoking ceremony by Ngunnawal elders, labelling Australia’s indigenous population as the “oldest civilisation on Earth”.
“I think that the traditions and values and cultures that you have passed on and are passing on really have so much to teach the rest of us as we seek to reconcile our differences in this fractured world and face the great challenge of caring for our environment,” Ms Kennedy said.
“My husband and I look forward to meeting as many Australians and First Nations peoples as we can, and learning from the next generation how we can all pass on a more just and peaceful and healthy world to our children.”
Ms Kennedy said she was “really looking forward” to meeting the Prime Minister for the first time on Wednesday but would not indicate any issues that would be discussed.
When asked whether the US had any problems with a Chinese company leasing the Port of Darwin, Ms Kennedy said: “Maybe we’ll go to Darwin and maybe we can talk about it there or in the future. But I don’t have anything on that today”.
Ms Kennedy would provide no updates on the AUKUS deal, other to flag “many announcements that are going to be coming in the coming weeks”.
“So, I think that’s best to let those unfold and then maybe we can talk about them as they do,” she said, in reference to whether there was any update on when the US or Britain could help Australia obtain nuclear submarines,” she said.
She also revealed little about an upcoming visit to the Solomon Islands with US Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman.
“The Deputy Secretary, I think would be the best person to answer what’s going to happen on the trip and so we’ll see,” Ms Kennedy said.
On whether there would be more US investment in the Pacific, Ms Kennedy said “we’ll see what happens in the future”.
“I’m sure there will be many announcements to come in many areas, but I think maybe we’ll take this up next week,” she said.
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