AMELIA BRACE, HOST: And earlier today, I spoke with the Foreign Minister in DC. Penny Wong. Thanks for your time. Why haven't you been able to lock in that meeting between Donald Trump and our Prime Minister?
PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, good to be with you, and we're looking forward to that meeting being rescheduled. And certainly I spoke with Secretary Rubio about the meeting. He again expressed regret for the fact the meeting had to be rescheduled because the President had to return early from the G7. So, looking forward to the two leaders meeting.
BRACE: It hasn't been rescheduled, though. We don't have another date.
FOREIGN MINISTER: We will work on rescheduling together. That's what he and I agreed, and we look forward to that meeting occurring.
BRACE: Is there a lack of urgency here, though? The pause on tariffs expires next week, and the review of AUKUS is up soon. Don't we need this meeting now?
FOREIGN MINISTER: Look, we've had a lot of engagement with the United States. This is the second time that I've been here since the inauguration. Obviously was very honoured to be invited as the first Australian Foreign Minister to be invited to a presidential inauguration. We also had a Quad meeting at that time, just as we have now. You've seen the Deputy Prime Minister here, you've seen the Treasurer here, you've seen other Ministers engaging. So, there has been a great deal of engagement with the administration. In relation to AUKUS, obviously, we understand that a new administration will want to have a review, just as the United Kingdom did when there was a new government elected there. We look forward to working with them on how this partnership, AUKUS, benefits the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
BRACE: You didn't manage to get any guarantees out of Marco Rubio that they'll maintain the AUKUS deal, but did he give you a bit of a hint about which way they're leaning?
FOREIGN MINISTER: Obviously, the review is still underway, but what I would say is I think Secretary Rubio understands very clearly the positive benefits for the United States of this partnership. It's a benefit to us, it's a benefit to the United States, and it's been a benefit to the United Kingdom.
BRACE: In your meeting, we're told Secretary Rubio didn't even raise America's request for Australia to increase its defence spending like European nations have. Does that mean they've dropped that? Have we won the standoff?
FOREIGN MINISTER: I wouldn't describe it as a standoff. I have seen diplomatic standoffs, and I don't think this can be classified as one. You know, obviously, you know, it wasn't an issue, it wasn't raised with me. We did discuss, however, the work that we do together, and we shouldn't underestimate the extent to which, through the alliance, we do a lot of work together for, you know, bilaterally, but also contributing to the stability of the region.
BRACE: Is our relationship on shaky ground, though? If Donald Trump won't make the time to meet our PM, we know he likes those personal relationships. He's met other leaders a number of times since taking over in January. Why can't he make time for us?
FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, look, they're not the words I would use to describe our relationship –
BRACE: What words would you use?
FOREIGN MINISTER: And what I would say – well, what I would say to you is that the Prime Minister and the President have had two very constructive phone calls. They were scheduled to meet at the G7. Obviously, the President had to leave because of what was occurring in the Middle East. We understand that. As I said to Secretary Rubio, we understand that. And we understand, also, that there are other countries who were not able to meet with the President as scheduled because of that. We're looking forward to rescheduling the meeting.
BRACE: Okay, let's talk about Iran. Donald Trump has said those strikes obliterated the nuclear assets. What did Marco Rubio say? Did he use the same word, obliterated?
FOREIGN MINISTER: Look, we obviously had a conversation in the Quad, particularly about the Iranian facilities. I think everybody understands that, you know, Iran has had a long-standing desire to increase its nuclear capability, and everybody understands that it's important for the international community to work together to prevent that from occurring.
BRACE: And do you believe that those assets, those facilities, have been wiped out? Questions have been raised about the impact of the strikes.
FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, you know, I'll leave that to the United States to provide their assessment. I think going forward, though, what we all understand is we have to ensure that Iran doesn't develop the nuclear capability that the world is concerned about. That's been Australia and the world's position for quite a number of years now.
BRACE: So, we don't know if those nuclear assets were, in fact, obliterated?
FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, these are questions for the United States, Amelia.
BRACE: Okay, Penny Wong, thank you so much for your time. We know you've got a lot on your plate over there.
FOREIGN MINISTER: Okay, good to speak with you. Cheers.