Australia's Defense Budget Not Raised in Quad Talks, Foreign Minister Says
Australia's defense spending was not discussed during Quad ministerial talks or bilateral meetings with U.S. officials, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Tuesday, despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio's stated goal of making the Quad a "vehicle for action."
"The issue of Australia's defence budget was not raised with me, either in the Quad or in my bilateral meeting," Wong told reporters after meeting with her counterparts from the United States, India and Japan.
The statement comes as the Trump administration has pressed allies to increase military spending and take greater responsibility for regional security. Rubio had indicated he wanted the Quad partnership to move beyond dialogue toward concrete action.
Instead, Wong said the meetings focused on "areas of cooperation that we want to see more concrete outcomes in," specifically citing critical minerals and maritime security as priority topics.
Trump Administration's 'Different Role' Acknowledged
When pressed about whether the U.S.-Australia relationship was changing under President Donald Trump, Wong acknowledged the administration's shift while maintaining confidence in the alliance.
"I think that the Trump administration and President Trump has made very clear to the world that he envisages a different role for America in the world," Wong said. "We understand that. And we respect that."
The comments came after reporters noted Australia had been unable to secure a meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Trump, and no tariff deal had been reached.
Wong emphasized the relationship's durability despite questions about American reliability under the new administration.
"Our strategic partnership is deep, it is trusting, it is to the benefit of both nations, and I think that is understood here in Washington," she said.
When directly asked if the United States was as reliable a partner under Trump as in the past, Wong referenced her previous answer about understanding Trump's different approach while stressing the alliance's bipartisan history.
"This is not a recent relationship," Wong said. "It's a relationship where the alliance has been in the hands of governments, of both political persuasions, and it will always be so."
Free Trade Agreement Position Unchanged
Australia maintained its stance on trade relations, with Wong reaffirming the country's commitment to honoring the existing Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement despite ongoing discussions about potential tariff arrangements.
"On tariffs, our position remains unchanged, which is we have a free trade agreement," Wong said. "That free trade agreement enables free trade, and we continue to honour that free trade agreement."
Wong noted that American goods and services "continue to enter Australia tariff-free in accordance with that free trade agreement," and emphasized the government wants to see the agreement honored.
The position comes as Trump has threatened tariffs on various trading partners, though Wong indicated Australia's situation differs from countries like India and Japan, which Trump mentioned as potential targets for trade deals.
"Obviously we're in a different position than India and Japan," Wong said, adding that Australia recognizes "the administration's approach on this" while maintaining its free trade agreement stance.
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