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

Speaking in Washington, where she will attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, the foreign minister said Beijing would top the agenda in talks with the new administration.

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

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.

By Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -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.

The Albanese government is spruiking Australia’s economic offerings to the US amid uncertainty among Washington’s closest allies.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sat down with Donald Trump’s new security advisor and Marco Rubio, the first cabinet member to be sworn in. Elon Musk says “future of civilization” could hang on German election in surprise address at AfD launch.

The newly installed Trump administration has quickly reaffirmed America’s strong support for the Philippines in the face of an increasingly aggressive China in the disputed South China Sea, despite doubts to the contrary voiced by some observers.

In a move sending a strong signal to China, foreign ministers from Quad countries have strongly opposed any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion

First diplomatic engagement of Trump team focuses on eco, security, tech coop in Indo-Pacific; Jaishankar says will think bigger and deepen agenda

Though the newly appointed State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the meeting between the two leaders had “affirmed a shared commitment to continue strengthening the partnership” between the US and India, political observers believe Rubio indicated the thorny issue in a subtle way.

The two-paragraph joint statement was the only indication of how the meeting unfolded as none of the ministers — Rubio, Australian Penny Wong, Indian S. Jaishankar or Japanese Iwaya Takeshi — spoke as they opened their meeting at the State Department.