Overview
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Rudd will conclude his posting on March 31, 2026, a year earlier than expected.
- After stepping down, Rudd will become global president of the Asia Society and lead its Centre for China Analysis, returning to an organization he headed from 2021 to 2023.
- Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong praised his tenure, citing work on the Critical Minerals and Rare Earths Framework, AUKUS engagement and stronger U.S. investment links.
- The government rejected suggestions of U.S. pressure on the decision, despite a widely reported October exchange in which President Donald Trump told Rudd, “I don’t like you … and I probably never will.”
- Canberra said a successor for the Washington role will be announced in due course.