US welcomes former PM Kevin Rudd’s China expertise

Kevin Rudd’s appointment as the next ambassador to Washington, succeeding Arthur Sinodinos, has been broadly welcomed in the US capital on both sides of the political spectrum.

Democrat senator Mark Warner says he was thrilled to see Kevin Rudd 'answer the call to serve'.

Kevin Rudd’s appointment as the next ambassador to Washington, succeeding Arthur Sinodinos, has been broadly welcomed in the US capital on both sides of the political spectrum as an experienced foreign policy and China expert at a critical juncture in the Australia-US relationship.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong ended months of speculation in diplomatic circles on Tuesday, announcing former prime minister and foreign minister Dr Rudd would replace Mr Sinodinos early next year as Canberra’s top diplomat in Washington.

In a late-night tweet in Washington a few hours after the announcement in Canberra, leading Democrat senator Mark Warner, chair of the chamber’s powerful intelligence committee, said he was “thrilled to see his long-time friend answer the call to serve”. “His years of leadership & expertise on Asia policy will be crucial in reinforcing the partnership between our two nations – particularly during this time of increased strategic competition with China,” Senator Warner posted.

Republican congressman Mike Gallagher, co-chair of the Friends of Australia caucus and chair-elect of the forthcoming select committee on China, said Mr Sinodinos had been a “great friend to America and played an important role in advancing the US-Australian alliance”. “I look forward to welcoming Kevin Rudd to the US and working with him to strengthen deterrence and advance our shared values throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” he told The Australian.

Dr Rudd, who has lived in New York City for years as president of the Asia Society think tank, has become more critical of Beijing since leaving government, giving speeches and penning articles warning the US and Australia were on a collision course for war with China over Taiwan unless the West could deter the CCP’s expansionist designs.

Former Liberal senator Mr Sinodinos, due to return to Australia early next year, said he “welcomed” Dr Rudd’s appointment.

“The relationship is going from strength to strength at a very consequential time, and I wish him all the best,” he told The Australian.

Former treasurer Joe Hockey said he would “do everything” he could “to support Kevin Rudd in his new role”. “He brings very senior diplomatic experience and it’s an added benefit that he has lived for so long in New York,” he said, adding the two nations “had never had stronger representation than a former PM and a Kennedy”.

Democrat powerbroker Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the assassinated president, arrived in July as President’s Joe Biden’s top envoy to Canberra.

Top of Dr Rudd’s agenda will be shepherding the AUKUS security pact, a three-way agreement between Australia, the US and UK that envisages Australia having eight nuclear-powered submarines by the late 2030s, to fruition.

Richard Fontaine, a former foreign policy adviser for the late Republican senator John McCain, and director of the influential Centre for New American Security, said Dr Rudd would be welcomed “with open arms”.

“In light of China’s relevance to the Australia-US relationship, his experience and expertise there will be a major plus. His appointment signals the importance Canberra places on ties to Washington,” he told The Australian.

Charles Edel, Australia chair at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said Dr Rudd “knew the central players in the administration well”.

“Having a former PM serve as ambassador is, I believe, an unprecedented choice and certainly marks this appointment as unique,” he told The Australian.