Penny Wong met with Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday (AEDT), the first formal talks between the pair since Donald Trump's second term as president began.
Senator Wong said the meeting focused on Australia's economic ties with the US, downplaying concerns tariffs could be imposed after Mr Trump flagged the trade measures on Canada and Mexico.
Today's meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers, so early in the Trump Administration's term, demonstrates our shared determination to work together for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. — Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) pic.twitter.com/TPdV8CCM4dJanuary 22, 2025
"Every Australian government in office at a time where a new administration has come in has had to navigate those trade policy issues. This is no different," she told reporters in Washington.
"I have focused very much on articulating why Australia's economic relationship with the United States is of benefit to the United States as well as to Australia.
"What I can say to Australians is that we will work consistently, confidently, with a very clear focus on Australia's interests to navigate any trade issues."
Senator Wong said the AUKUS deal, where Australia receive nuclear submarines as part of a deal with the United States and United Kingdom, was also brought up in the bilateral meeting, noting the new administration was keen to progress the partnership.
"It's been really clear that the Trump administration understands the strategic imperative around AUKUS, which is why the government is so committed to it," she said.
The one-on-one with the secretary of state also happened alongside a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which included Mr Rubio along with ministers from India and Japan.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers reiterated calls for an open and free Indo-Pacific region.
"Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains ... underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific," the statement said.
"We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton welcomed the meeting between Senator Wong and Mr Rubio, saying ties between the two countries needed to be strengthened.
However, he said there was still work to do from the federal government following previous comments made by the foreign minister about Mr Trump in the years prior to his re-election as president.
"We want to work constructively with the United States because it's the underpinning of our security in this country in a very uncertain century, and it's also a very important people-to-people relationship," he told reporters in Goulburn on Wednesday.
"There is a lot of repair work to do, and it's no wonder that Penny Wong is there, I suspect on bended knee, trying to beg forgiveness for some of the impertinent comments that they've made."
