U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed hope that the incoming Trump administration would collaborate with allies Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific, amid “acute strategic competition” with China, and avoid withdrawing from the region.
In response to China’s growing police presence in the Pacific islands and its security pact with the Solomons, the Biden administration has increased diplomacy by offering more infrastructure, U.S. Coast Guard patrols, and a defense deal with Papua New Guinea. However, Campbell emphasized that the AUKUS partnership faces significant challenges in transferring nuclear submarine technology from the United States and Britain to Australia, he said during a video address to a conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
Campbell stated, “The hope is that the United States will resist the temptation to turn inward and put its interests first, recognizing that we are stronger when we work with allies and partners.” He also urged Australia to make a compelling case for why the United States should remain engaged globally.
He pointed out that Republican senators like Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, who have long advocated for American involvement in the Indo-Pacific, will significantly influence the administration’s approach moving forward. He added that a proposed 50% cut to the State Department’s budget and USAID would hinder efforts to compete in the region. “China is relentless—they want to build bases and extend their power there. We will have to do more, and do more with Australia and New Zealand,” Campbell said.
Campbell expressed hope that Senator Rubio and the Trump administration would recognize the urgency of the strategic competition in the Pacific. He also noted that the AUKUS partnership would require substantial effort from the Pentagon, comparing the situation to the 1950s and 60s, when large numbers of U.S. forces were stationed in Japan. “A similar experience will need to happen in Australia,” he said, stressing the importance of ensuring a smooth process and implementing necessary mechanisms.
Reflecting on the previous Trump administration’s China strategy, Campbell described it as “play for victory.” He warned against rhetoric aiming to directly topple the Chinese Communist Party, stating it would be destabilizing and unpopular among most U.S. allies and partners.
Campbell also noted that China had expressed concerns about the potential for massive tariffs to disrupt the global economy and had started discussing the need for guardrails and responsible competition.
