Defence boss to replace Rudd as next US ambassador
Defense ministry boss Greg Moriarty has been appointed Australia’s next ambassador to the US, replacing former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Mr Moriarty has led the department since late 2017 and previously served as private secretary to then-Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Sunday, with Dr. He did so before Rudd left office at the end of March.
“Mr Moriarty is an outstanding Australian public servant,” Mr Albanese told the ABC’s Insiders programme.
“I was impressed with the way he handled himself and his connections in the United States.
“The AUKUS relationship is at the heart of our relationship with the United States, and he is in a very strong position to handle all of these details.”
Dr Rudd, a former Labor prime minister, was appointed in 2023 but resigned a year early.
It has faced a turbulent period under the Trump administration, which has previously been harshly critical of the US president.
Mr. Albanese, Dr. He said Rudd could look back on his time as ambassador with “real pride”.
Mr Trump recently sparked outrage by claiming that NATO countries’ troops were staying away from the front lines in Afghanistan, prompting condemnation from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other allies.
47 Australians were killed in the 20-year conflict, while 261 of the country’s personnel were injured before troops were withdrawn in mid-2021.
While Mr Albanese called Mr Trump’s comments “unacceptable”, he noted that the US president has since recanted the remarks.
“The 47 Australian families who will be harmed by these comments deserve our absolute respect and admiration,” he said.
“They have certainly been on the front lines, along with our other allies, to defend democracy, freedom and our national interests.”
RSL national chairman Peter Tinley criticized the US president’s remarks as factually incorrect, historically ignorant and deeply offensive.
“I call on the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition to reaffirm in the clearest terms that Australia’s service in Afghanistan was conducted with courage, professionalism and distinction,” he said.
In an interview with Fox Business Network, Mr. Trump previously said he was not sure NATO would be there to support the United States when asked.
“You know, they’ll say they sent troops to Afghanistan or something, and they did, they stayed a little bit behind, a little bit outside the front lines,” he said.
Mr Trump posted a message on Truth Social on Sunday morning praising the “great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom”, saying they were “among the greatest of all warriors”.
British officials said the online post followed a discussion between Mr Trump and Sir Keir on the issue on Saturday.
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