Rep. Courtney: Ambassador Kevin Rudd Raised the Stature of AUKUS Above a Polarized Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Friends of Australia Caucus and Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement on the legacy of Ambassador Kevin Rudd, who will depart as Australian Ambassador to the United States on March 31, 2026.  

“From the day Ambassador Rudd arrived in Washington in March 2023, he has been a force of nature in terms of advancing one of the most complex legislative agendas for the nation of Australia in many decades,” Courtney said. “Enactment by Congress of AUKUS authorities in December 2023 required relentless interaction and presence on the Hill, with the White House, and the Department of Defense. Overnight, Ambassador Rudd earned the respect of Members on both sides of the aisle because of his deep understanding of the Indo-Pacific region, the People’s Republic of China, and the critical importance of the U.S.-Australia alliance. His input raised the stature of debate and deliberations above a highly polarized Congress, and in the years to come, this achievement will stand out as one of the keystones of the U.S.-Australia alliance. I wish Ambassador Rudd all the best.” 

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