After 2-year vacancy, the US has finally sent an Ambassador to Australia

[Mighty AU]

The United States is sending an ambassador Down Under, finally filling a two-year vacancy in Canberra.

With eyes in Washington on the partial government shutdown, there were fears the senators of the 115th Congress would not have time for a whole swathe of unfinished bureaucratic business.

But, right at the last minute, they ticked off some items on their to-do lists, confirming dozens of President Donald Trump's nominees for postings, en masse.

They may have acted on the urging of the President, who had complained on Twitter his candidates were waiting "FAR TOO LONG" and claimed "heads of countries" had been phoning about the delay.

Among the nominees was Arthur Culvahouse Jr, who will serve as US ambassador to Australia.

For what it's worth, the US ambassadors to Kenya, Mongolia, Brunei, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Guyana and Armenia also got the nod.

If Mr Culvahouse had not been confirmed today, his nomination would have expired, possibly leading to weeks of delays.

"It certainly means he'll be in the country by the time of the election and that's extremely important," said Bruce Wolpe, a visiting fellow at the United States Studies Centre.

"The highest levels of the State Department will have the best representation of what's occurring in Australia."

The diplomatic role, which has been vacant since 2016, has been something of a sore spot in the US-Australia relationship.

The US redirected its first nominee, Harry Harris, to serve in South Korea as tensions with North Korea rose this Autumn.

Some, including former prime minister Kevin Rudd, saw the move as a diplomatic snub.

...

Read more at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-03/australia-finally-has-a-us-ambassador/10682716

[Zakk]

We're sorry, guys.

[Mighty AU]

Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Trump didn’t prioritise this because he didn’t like Malcolm Turnbull. Apparently our relationship with the US matters as much as the US’ relationships with other countries like Mongolia and Yemen.

[Reds]

It's okay, we'll just keep trading out prime ministers until we find one he likes. If he doesn't like this week's one there'll be a new one next week for him.

[Sableye]

FOR FAR TOO LONG [I forgot to nominate someone.]

darn twitter character count.

[Death-trooper]

I thought Trump was the ambassador. Given how much he shitposts.