Is Risky Rudd Ready to Put Service Before Self?

Commentary

Many of the observations made about Australia’s choice of its new ambassador to Washington, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, are less than flattering.

A former Labor Premier and Senate Deputy Leader, Kristina Keneally, once described him on Sky News as a “psychopathic narcissist.” She made those observations confirming other Labor colleagues shared her assessment when there was speculation Rudd was wanting the U.N. Secretary General’s position.

One wonders what her observations would be today on his appointment to such a vital post as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.

Not being able to set his own agenda and having to spend his life trying to make others look good besides being polite and courteous is not a task that will come naturally to His Excellency Ambassador Rudd.

His non-stop game-playing, which saw him ultimately become the leader of the Australian Labor Party, was a show to behold.

Two leaders under whom Rudd served, Mark Latham and Julia Gillard, have also been scathing of his behaviour. One allegedly accused him of targeted leaking from Cabinet, and the other alleged Rudd has a need to be always liked.

He is even alleged to have leaked a private conversation he had with U.S. President George W. Bush, which allegedly built himself up at the president’s expense. Most comers would be exceptionally wary of sharing with a character of such a disposition.

His prime ministerships were marked by an incapacity to delegate based on what insiders advised was a lack of trust in others’ loyalty or ability.

With these antecedents, the newly installed Labor government in Australia has appointed Rudd as the ambassador to Washington, undoubtedly the most significant diplomatic post for Australia.

Australia’s relationship with the United States is at its most significant, especially from a defence and security consideration.

The nuclear submarine acquisition under the AUKUS treaty is overwhelmingly considered a vital recalibration of Australia’s defence posture. But Rudd was unable to contain himself and criticised the much-heralded deal by even writing a scathing critique of it for a French newspaper.

This is hardly suggestive that Rudd is on Team Australia’s side.

Now Rudd will be charged with helping to oversee its smooth delivery and ensuring its success which, if successful, would highlight Rudd’s poor initial judgement. He won’t be able to say he was wrong. The spin will be a delight to observe.

But one wonders from an American perspective how welcome Rudd will be. He clearly isn’t in the category of previous appointments like Andrew Peacock or Kim Beazley in terms of charm and capacity.

So time will tell, and we will need to be patient as to how his appointment will play out. His previous ambivalent approach to the United States and his fawning towards the Communist dictatorship in China will be difficult for him to overcome, but overcome it he must.

For Australia to have an untrusted ambassador in the United States will do exceptional damage to our most important diplomatic relationship.

No matter what we might think of the appointment, the Chinese dictatorship will be pleased, as it comes at a time when the CCP is flexing its military muscle and using debt-trap foreign policy approach with third-world countries to tie them into its geopolitical sphere. At a time such as this, solidarity between freedom-loving countries of the world is vital, especially between the United States and Australia.

The one aspect of Rudd’s appointment, which will be leveraged by Rudd himself and the government, is that he is a former Australian prime minister. Whether that will outweigh all the other flaws based on lived experience remains to be seen.

The announcement of his appointment has not stopped Rudd from recently telling the United States to stop throwing its Asia-Pacific allies under the proverbial economic bus if regional security cooperation is to be maintained.

Rudd’s defence of his comments was that he hadn’t turned into an ambassadorial pumpkin just yet, noting his appointment starts in March.

True, but as soon as the announcement was made, the government was entitled to expect a greater degree of circumspection from their ambassador-designate.

Suffice it to say neither a clever nor diplomatic utterance for the designated ambassador to make.

However, Rudd’s flagging reputation both at home and abroad will be vitally boosted if he can repudiate the doubters and be a team player, knuckling down to do his duty for Australia and foster its most important relationship.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.