Wong plays a dead bat in Washington

Foreign Minister Penny Wong meets her American counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington Picture: Getty Images

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Penny Wong’s trip to Washington is a symbol of Australia’s dead-bat game plan in dealing with the Trump administration.

The Albanese government’s diplomacy is marked by no sense of public initiative or urgency – only a passive acceptance that America’s role in world affairs is changing.

The gamble is that Australia can skate through without shifting its approach. Such timidity will fail to deliver the outcomes the country needs during the Trump era.

It stands in contrast to the attitude of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sounded a call to action on Tuesday, arguing that he wanted the Quad to achieve more “concrete” results.

The transactional dynamics of the Trump administration require nations to embrace action and upheaval while striking deals and leveraging the power of relationships.

Yet Australia appears deterred and uncertain about how to advance the partnership with America at a time when Washington has increased its expectations of allies.

Earlier this year, the government failed to leverage a critical minerals deal to win an exemption from Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs and it now faces demands to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP as well as a snap review of the AUKUS agreement.

After a day of meetings with her Quad counterparts, Wong made a number of cautious statements that pointed to the thinking of the Labor government.

First, it does not believe America is as reliable under Trump. Pressed on this question, Wong said: “We understand that President Trump has a different view of how America is to be in the world. We respect that.”

She said the strategic partnership remained “deep”, “trusting” and “to the benefit of both nations”. This qualifies as an endorsement, but does not signal the usual Australian confidence in the alliance.

Second, the Pentagon’s 30-day review of AUKUS is a major blind spot and Wong cannot give any guarantee the agreement will continue in its current form.

“This is a review which is still in the process of being undertaken. We will provide information to that review as and when requested,” she said.

This comment suggests there has been no engagement with the Pentagon so far. It also leaves open the prospect of the review – led by Elbridge Colby – imposing further hurdles and conditions on Australia.

Third, the government is weak on identifying Beijing as a threat. Asked whether it was, Wong said China was a “great power”.

“It is asserting its influence using all aspects of national power,” she said. “The challenge for Australia and for other countries is that one can see where those interests differ from Australia’s interests.”

Fourth, Australia will not increase defence spending simply because it is demanded by the US and, finally, Labor is sensitive about the failure of Anthony Albanese to line up a meeting with Trump.

“I think the world understood the President had a fair bit to do … given what was occurring in the Middle East,” she said. “We are working together on rescheduling the meeting.”

The government is in a holding pattern and calculates that it can manage the US President primarily through an Australian political lens.

It is banking on the US President’s unpopularity at home to insulate it from any pushback it receives from Washington. Leaning into this approach may have worked during the recent election campaign, but it is now a mistake.

If the trend continues, it may weaken the alliance over the longer term. Worse still, it could invite a more serious rupture in relations or a reassessment in Washington about Australia itself.

This will concern most Australians who grasp the difference between the volatility of the current administration and the enduring value of the alliance, the US defensive shield and nuclear umbrella.