Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong before the 35th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, "Secretary Rubio reiterated that the United States has no better friend, partner, or ally than Australia, and highlighted progress made in implementing the landmark Critical Minerals Framework signed by President Trump and Australian Prime Minister Albanese in October. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Wong also discussed their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing cooperation to combat online scam operations and supporting further strategic infrastructure projects across the Pacific."
The meeting focused on ongoing efforts under the Critical Minerals Framework. The framework aims to strengthen supply chains for minerals essential to modern technologies and was agreed upon by leaders from both countries in October. Additionally, both officials addressed ways to work together on cybersecurity threats, particularly online scams, and discussed joint support for new infrastructure initiatives throughout the Pacific region.
