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.

She will join other foreign ministers from the Quad group in talks with new US 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.

Analysts have said the meeting is designed to signal that countering Beijing is a top priority for Mr Trump. Read more at straitstimes.com.

After the Quad ministerial, Rubio had his first bilateral with Jaishankar, which lasted for more than an hour. India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, was also present in the meeting. Jaishankar also met National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Tuesday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan as the Trump administration kicks off its formal foreign policy engagements in discussions with the Indo-Pacific “Quad.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a meeting in Washington with counterparts from Australia, India and Japan on Tuesday will stress the importance of working with allies "on the things that are important to America and Americans.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the vice president?s dinner ahead of the inauguration of Trump, in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.

The Quad meeting was also attended by foreign ministers, Penny Wong from Australia and Takeshi Iwaya from Japan