The Pentagon has created confusion over the nature of an “encounter” between Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and his US counterpart while in Washington.
Marles posted a photo of himself with Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (local time).
However, a Pentagon official denied there was a formal meeting between the two defence ministers, instead describing their face-to-face as a “happenstance encounter”.
“We can confirm there was not a meeting. It was a happenstance encounter,” the US defence official said.
The Greens seized on the statement and accused the US of treating Australia with “contempt”, while the Coalition questioned the Albanese government’s ability to secure a meeting.
“Our defence minister flies to Washington and can’t even get a meeting in the middle of the US review,” said Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge.
“That is the clearest indication of how Washington treats Australia under AUKUS.
“We are a source of funds, we are a source of bases for the United States, and they are treating us with contempt.”
Afterwards, the Pentagon issued a second, warmer, statement walking back its earlier denial.
“Secretary Hegseth welcomed the opportunity to meet in person with Deputy Prime Minister Marles for the third time this year,” a spokesman said.
“Their meeting at the White House on Tuesday was coordinated in advance.”
Marles revealed his interactions with a number of US officials after returning from Washington DC earlier in the week.
He mentioned meeting with Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Marles did not state that he held any meeting with Hegseth.
“The Alliance between Australia and the United States is longstanding, built on our shared history of deep collaboration,” Marles posted alongside the photo with Vance and Hegseth.
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to building on this partnership with US.”
Later in federal parliament on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese scoffed at the fuss created by the Greens and Coalition, comparing it to the “fake moon landing”.
Albanese said Australia’s relationship with the US should be above partisan politics.
Earlier on Thursday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said his colleague had secured “very senior meetings.”
“I find it quite strange, frankly, to see some of this kind of kick back,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“Richard, as always, is engaging with American counterparts enthusiastically, diligently, professionally.”
Opposition senator Bridget McKenzie said it appeared Marles wasn’t able to have “deep engagement” with a person important to the US-Australia relationship.
But Coalition finance spokesman James Paterson acknowledged Marles previously had “extensive dealings” with his US counterpart.
“It’s a good thing that the deputy prime minister has been to Washington DC, has met with the vice president, has met with Secretary of State Rubio.” he told Sky News.
“That’s the kind of relationship we aspire to have and want to have with the United States.”
Marles held a meeting with the defence secretary in June where Hegseth said Australia should lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
US demands have taken the spotlight in recent months after the Pentagon launched a review into the trilateral AUKUS pact, creating doubt over the future of Australia’s nuclear submarines.
The threat of US tariffs has already taken a toll on the postal system after President Donald Trump unveiled a 10 per cent tariff on most Australian goods sent to America.
Australia Post announced on Tuesday it would halt services to the United States, introducing a temporary ban on items worth more than $150.
The tariffs are expected to affect about 3000 small businesses in Australia and Trade Minister Don Farrell said he has already raised the issue with the general counsel of the United States Trade Representative Jennifer Thornton.
“We’ve said to the Americans, ‘firstly, we don’t agree with what you’ve done, but if you’re going to do it, then you’ve got to do it in a way that people can comply,” Senator Farrell told reporters.
-with AAP
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