CANBERRA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer has accused the U.S. of hitting Australia with a "diplomatic insult."
Fischer, who served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999 under Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister John Howard, on Wednesday said the U.S. administration's failure to appoint an ambassador to Canberra for 18 months indicated Australia was now of "low priority."
John Berry, the former U.S. Ambassador to Australia, resigned in September 2016, leaving the post vacant ever since.
"This is now bordering on a diplomatic insult," Fischer told Fairfax Media on Wednesday. "We've been downgraded, despite all the nice noises. We are a low priority.
Fischer identified U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition to a refugee deal negotiated between his predecessor Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as a likely reason for the current administration's failure to appoint an ambassador.
It has long been speculated that Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, is the likely next ambassador but there has been no confirmation from the White House.
Simon Jackman, head of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, disagreed with Fischer, saying the delay showed the Trump administration was taking the appointment "extremely seriously."
Facts Only
Tim Fischer: Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister (served 1996-1999)
John Howard: Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister
John Berry: former U.S. Ambassador to Australia (resigned in September 2016)
Admiral Harry Harris: head of the U.S. Pacific Command (possibly next U.S. ambassador to Australia, unconfirmed)
Donald Trump: President of the United States
Malcolm Turnbull: Australian Prime Minister
Executive Summary
Full Take
**Steelman:** Fischer's criticism of the U.S. for failing to appoint an ambassador to Australia for 18 months stems from his belief that this is a diplomatic insult, downgrading Australia's importance in the eyes of the current U.S. administration. He suggests that Trump's opposition to a refugee deal negotiated between Obama and Turnbull may be a contributing factor. **Patterns detected: none**
**Root Cause:** The delayed appointment could be due to political disagreements over policy issues, such as the refugee deal or broader strategic considerations within the U.S. administration. This situation highlights the complexities of international diplomacy and the potential impact of domestic politics on foreign relations.
**Implications:** If the delay in appointing an ambassador continues, it could strain Australia-U.S. relations and potentially impact cooperation on various issues, such as regional security and trade. It may also be indicative of shifting priorities in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration.
**Bridge Questions:** How does the U.S.'s failure to appoint an ambassador to Australia affect bilateral relations? What role do domestic politics play in shaping foreign policy decisions? Who benefits from this situation, and who bears the costs?
Sentinel — Human
This analysis suggests that the article is likely human-written, with evidence of idiosyncratic emphasis and balanced perspectives. However, there is a low risk of stylometric signals indicating machine generation.