Foreign Minister Penny Wong has held one-on-one talks for the first time with newly sworn-in US secretary of state Marco Rubio.

Australia and other Quad nations pledged to work together following the first meeting of the diplomatic grouping since US President Donald Trump returned to power.Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her counterparts from India and Japan held talks with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on  Wednesday (AEDT).

Confidence is high that Australia will be able to avoid tough trade sanctions under the second Trump administration, the foreign minister says, following talks with the new US Secretary of State.

The threat of punitive tariffs, critical minerals and the AUKUS partnership – not the future of Kevin Rudd’s ambassadorship – formed the basis of Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s first meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has criticised Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s attendance at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

By David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis and Alasdair Pal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States, Australia, India and Japan recommitted to working together on Tuesday, after the first meeting of the China-focused "Quad" grouping's top diplomats since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Australia’s argument to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs and maintain the AUKUS pact was successfully delivered on the first full day of his administration in his top diplomat’s first foreign engagements.

Australia and the United States maintain a strong economic relationship, the foreign minister says, as Donald Trump retakes office as president and spikes concerns about trade tariffs. Penny Wong attended Mr Trump's inauguration in Washington DC on Tuesday (AEDT) and said it was "such a privilege and honour to be the first Australian foreign minister to be invited and to attend an inauguration".

Fresh from attending Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Foreign Minister Penny Wong will hold meetings with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

US president-elect Donald Trump has an “opportunity” to stabilise the Middle East amid a fragile truce in Gaza, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has met new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other leads of the Quad in Washington.

The United States, Australia, India, and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, warning against the use of force to change the status quo. They plan to hold a summit in India and address regional security issues,