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 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.

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.

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.

However, none of the four foreign ministers — Rubio, Australian Penny Wong, Indian S. Jaishankar or Japanese Iwaya Takeshi — spoke as they opened their meeting at the State Department. Instead they stood silent and expressionless in front of their respective flags before journalists were ushered out.

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

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.

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.

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.

Three US officials reportedly said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Panama as early as next week. The trip is expected to be Rubio’s first foreign travel as secretary of State.

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