Daily US Times: President Joe Biden is poised to nominate Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, to serve as ambassador to Australia, in one of the highest-profile envoy selections yet by the White House.
During Obama administration, Kennedy served as ambassador to Japan. She is a longtime ally, friend and donor to Joe Biden who endorsed the President’s candidacy early in the campaign and spoke at the Democratic convention last summer.
CNN reported about the President’s move, but a White House spokesperson declined to comment on the issue, saying more ambassadors would be announced when the vetting process and the notification to host countries have been completed.
The appointment of Caroline Kennedy to Australia reflects the high priority the current US administration is placing on the Asia-Pacific as it deals with an increasingly assertive China in the region and on the world stage.
Australia and the US share a robust military relationship and close trade ties, fighting side by side in every major conflict since World War I.
Both of the countries are also members of the “Five Eyes alliance,” an intelligence sharing arrangement between the English speaking democracies of the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand.
If confirmed, Caroline Kennedy would come to the job with prior experience specific to the region. A graduate of Columbia University Law School and Harvard University, she served as ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017 as an Obama administration appointee.
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