The threat of punitive tariffs, critical minerals and the AUKUS partnership – not the future of Kevin Rudd’s ambassadorship – formed the basis of Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s first meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Australia and other Quad nations pledged to work together following the first meeting of the diplomatic grouping since US President Donald Trump returned to power.Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her counterparts from India and Japan held talks with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on  Wednesday (AEDT).

Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with other members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in Washington, including US Security of State Marco Rubio.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has held one-on-one talks for the first time with newly sworn-in US secretary of state Marco Rubio.

The meeting, bringing together representatives of the four largest militaries in the Indo-Pacific, was a clear signal that the Trump administration will intensify military preparations and threats directed at China.

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, said that Australia is one of the few foreign government to have been invited to attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. During her visit,

Penny Wong and Donald Trump hardly sound like a match made in political heaven. Yet, there was Australia’s foreign minister, in prime position.

Fresh from attending Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Foreign Minister Penny Wong will hold meetings with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Australia’s argument to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs and maintain the AUKUS pact was successfully delivered on the first full day of his administration in his top diplomat’s first foreign engagements.

Shortly after becoming the first member of Donald Trump’s Cabinet to be confirmed, Marco Rubio, the new US secretary of state, held a bilateral with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Thi

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has used her first bilateral meeting with America’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, to build support for the AUKUS partnership and promote closer economic security under a new Trump administration whose agenda has already unnerved close allies.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd will both attend the inauguration of Donald Trump, despite furore over historic tweets in which Dr Rudd labelled the incoming US president as “the most destructive president in history”.