Australia’s top diplomat said on Thursday she had a “great deal of confidence” that Donald Trump’s re-election will not sink a defence pact designed to underpin her country’s security.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong insisted the multibillion-dollar Aukus pact had bipartisan support and that both countries were eager to see a “stable” and “peaceful” Asia-Pacific region.
The 2021 pact binds the United States, Britain and Australia, facilitating the transfer of sensitive nuclear, missile and other defence technology.
“We’ve been engaging with both sides of politics in the US for a very long time about this project,” Wong told Australian media.
“We’re very pleased to see both the progress we’ve made with the support from Republicans and Democrats alike.”
Wong said in radio and television interviews on Thursday she had met with Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state in the previous Trump administration during the election campaign.
