Security expert Michael Shoebridge warns Australia-US relationship 'fraying' as Trump is yet to appoint an ambassador
US President Donald Trump has appointed ambassadors to many countries since coming into office, but Canberra has been left without someone to fill the role for months.
Strategic Analysis Australia Director Michael Shoebridge said the lack of an appointment 'fits a pattern', citing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's failure to secure a face-to-face meeting with Trump.
'The relationship between Canberra and Washington is fraying, and that is bad news,' Mr Shoebridge told Sky News on Thursday night.
'It reminds me of that book title about why people didn't get a second date, which was 'He's just not that into you'. So, it's become clear that Australia is a low priority in Washington, DC.'
Mr Shoebridge warned there will consequences for Australia due to lacklustre diplomatic relations between the nations.
'Australia will get lowest common denominator outcomes on economics and security ... we should be a valued high priority, and we're a low priority,' he said.
Ambassadorial nominees for at least 52 nations, including New Zealand, Latvia and Tunisia, have been announced by the United States since Trump administration came into office, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
Erika Olson, who is the Chargé d'Affaires for the US in Australia, currently "manages the US-Australia bilateral relationship" through the embassy in Canberra and consulates, according the embassy's website.
Mr Shoebridge's comments comes amid ongoing criticism of Mr Albanese being yet to secure a meeting with Trump since his inauguration in January.
Mr Albanese had been set to meet with Trump at the G7 summit in June, but the chance for bilateral discussions were scrapped when Trump left the event early due to the Middle East crisis.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong told Sky News last month that Washington is keen to reschedule a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders after their G7 talks were cancelled.
'I had a really good meeting yesterday with Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, and he obviously expressed regret for the meeting having to be rescheduled between the President and the Prime Minister,' Senator Wong said on July 3.
'We agreed to work together on rescheduling the meeting, so I'm looking forward to that happening.'
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