Foreign Minister Penny Wong will travel to Washington on Monday to join her Quad counterparts for talks on regional security and to seek relief from U.S. tariffs on Australian exports. Wong’s visit comes as the United States intensifies pressure on Canberra to boost defence spending amid growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Wong is due to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio one-on-one ahead of the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, which also includes India’s S. Jaishankar and Japan’s Iwaya Takeshi. The Quad grouping has become a key forum for coordinating policy on challenges such as China’s rise, the war in Ukraine and global supply-chain resilience.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has publicly urged Australia to increase its defence spending from roughly 2 per cent of GDP to around 3.5 per cent, arguing that regional allies must shoulder a larger share of security costs. Australia’s current level stands at just over 2 per cent, with forecasts suggesting it will reach 2.33 per cent by 2033–34 under existing budgets.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have resisted setting arbitrary GDP targets, insisting that funding should align with capability needs rather than headline figures.
“We have gone about the business of not chasing a number, but thinking about what is our capability need, and then resourcing it,”
Marles said earlier this month.
On trade, Wong aims to negotiate an exemption from the Trump-era tariffs that have affected Australian wine, steel, and aluminium exports. Canberra has argued that these measures unfairly penalise key industries and has sought carve-outs similar to those granted to other allies.
Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian cautioned Canberra that higher defence outlays could hinder economic growth in an opinion piece for The Australian.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher brushed off those concerns in an interview with Nine, emphasising that Australia will “make decisions based on our national interest” across defence, security and other policy areas. Gallagher added she expects defence spending to feature on the agenda at this week’s Quad foreign ministers’ meeting.
Analysts say Wong’s dual mandate highlights Australia’s balancing act: reinforcing security ties with Washington while protecting economic interests. “This trip is a critical test of Australia’s diplomatic agility,” said Dr. Emily Davis, a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute.
“Success would demonstrate Canberra can both meet its alliance obligations and defend its export markets.”
Wong’s Washington visit marks the latest chapter in closer Australia–U.S. collaboration, following the AUKUS defence pact and expanded joint exercises. Observers will watch closely for any commitments on defence budgets and tariff relief, both key priorities as Canberra navigates an increasingly contested region.
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