The News
New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is spending his first full day on the job meeting his counterparts in the Quad alliance — made up of the US, India, Japan, and Australia. Rubio was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Monday hours after President Donald Trump was sworn into the role, becoming Trump’s first official cabinet member.
The meeting, held at the State Department, underscored the expectation that countering China will be Rubio’s top priority: The Quad group has long focused on Beijing’s military and economic activities, and is seen as a critical counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia may be looking for some additional assurance from Washington over AUKUS, a defense deal that is aimed at allowing Australia to purchase nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons from the US. Some experts believe the deal could face challenges under President Donald Trump.