Tributes for Donald Trump’s steady envoy Arthur Culvahouse Jr

Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr will depart as the US Ambassador to Australia by the end of January — less than two years after he took up the job.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and US Ambassador Arthur Culvahouse in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr will depart as the US Ambassador to Australia by the end of January — less than two years after he took up the job following an extended vacancy in the post — making way for Joe Biden’s own diplomatic appointment.

Mr Culvahouse, who arrived in Canberra last year, said he expected to return to the US by the time Mr Biden was sworn in.

“I’m a political ambassador, a political appointee,” Mr Culvahouse said in Brisbane. “I understand those rules and political ambassadors almost without exception, return home when there is a change of administration.”

Mr Culvahouse’s departure comes as Mr Biden presented key appointments he’d made to his administration, including naming former US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen as treasury secretary and John Kerry as special envoy for climate. Antony Blinken will become the Biden administration’s secretary of state while former CIA deputy director Avril Haines will be director of national intelligence.

Mr Culvahouse took up the post last March after Mr Trump took three years to replace Barack Obama’s ambassador John Berry, who left in September 2016.

In his relatively short time in Australia, Mr Culvahouse was noted for increasing Five Eyes intelligence and economic co-­operation between the US and Australia. He also played a key role in last year’s AUSMIN meeting in Sydney between Foreign Minister Marise Payne and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, considered one of the most substantive US-Australia bilateral ­dialogues of the past decade.

Australian Strategic Policy ­Institute director Peter Jennings said Mr Culvahouse had reassured Australia it was still an important ally in the turbulent Trump era. “He has been the model of a high-quality ambassador, acting as the representative of the most unusual administration,” he said. “He was very conventional and performed his duties admirably.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Mr Culvahouse’s friendship to Australia had been “quite remarkable” while Liberal MP Dave Sharma, Australia’s former ambassador to Israel, said Mr Culvahouse Jr had helped to steady the alliance during a period of unpredictability.

“Ambassador Culvahouse has been an exemplary diplomat and representative,” Mr Sharma said.

“And he has helped guide the relationship with a steady hand during a time of some unpredictability in Washington,” he said.

Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said she “deeply appreciated the respect and candour Ambassador Culvahouse has brought to our discussions.”

“He understands how important it is for both our countries,” she said.