Source : Perth Now news
US President Donald Trump’s envoy in Canberra has paid tribute to Australian soldiers as his first official act, laying a wreath in the capital and praising the US-Australia alliance.
David Brat this week presented his credentials as US ambassador to Governor-General Sam Mostyn, filling a role left vacant for almost two years.
Arriving at a time when Washington is reassessing its global security commitments, he has flagged the defence relationship with Australia as a top priority.
“Australia has been our closest ally and friend for generations,” he said after visiting the Australian War Memorial on Wednesday.
“It’s an honour to visit such an awe-inspiring tribute as ambassador.”
Mr Brat said American and Australian soldiers “have fought side-by-side and stood shoulder-to-shoulder for decades in times of war and times of peace”.
“I look forward to furthering our longstanding defence partnership during my posting to Australia,” he said.
He also highlighted the US-Australia economic relationship, declaring that it has “never been stronger” despite tensions spurred by the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs.
“Our two nations are investing in each other more than ever before, and our economic ties have never been stronger,” he said.
“Maintaining this momentum by delivering on commercial deals is a top priority for President Trump.”
A hardline Christian conservative from Virginia, Mr Brat holds a PhD in economics and has worked as an academic and economist of much of his career.
He turned to politics in the Twenty-Teens and represented Virginia’s 7th district from 2014 until 2019 after ousting then-US House majority leader Eric Cantor in a Republican primary.
