美国参议院周五下午批准了包括前弗吉尼亚州众议员戴维·布拉特（David Brat）在内的74项提名，确认他为美国驻澳大利亚大使[1][2]。这一任命结束了该职位长达18个月的空缺[2]，布拉特由特朗普在4月提名[1][2]。
布拉特因在2014年共和党初选中击败七届众议院议员埃里克·坎托（Eric Cantor）而知名[1]。不过他在2018年失去了代表弗吉尼亚州的众议院席位，该席位被民主党人艾比盖尔·斯潘伯格（Abigail Spanberger）赢得[1]。
布拉特的到任时机恰逢美澳关系面临紧张局势，包括美国在7月对澳大利亚出口商品征收12.5%关税[2]，以及澳大利亚宣布改变核潜艇采购计划——改为购买三艘二手美国核潜艇而非原计划的两艘二手和一艘新造，这一Aukus协议价值370亿美元[2]。澳大利亚总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯曾在4月表示将与特朗普提名的任何人合作[2]。布拉特的到任将与澳新美条约75周年纪念同步进行[1][2]。
The US Senate has confirmed former Virginia congressman Dave Brat as the next American ambassador to Australia, ending a significant gap in the diplomatic post [1][2]. Brat, who was nominated by President Trump in April, will arrive in Canberra ahead of the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS treaty on September 1 [1][2].
The ambassador position had remained vacant for approximately 18 months [2]. Brat's appointment comes as US-Australia relations face strain from multiple fronts, including American tariffs on Australian goods. The United States imposed a 12.5% tariff on Australian exports in July [2]. Meanwhile, Australia has adjusted its defense commitments under the AUKUS alliance, announcing plans to purchase three secondhand American nuclear submarines rather than the originally planned combination of two used and one newly constructed vessel, as part of a $37 billion agreement [2].
Brat's political career includes a notable 2014 upset victory in Virginia's Republican primary, when he defeated seven-term House Speaker Eric Cantor [1]. However, he subsequently lost his House seat to Democrat Abigail Spanberger in 2018 [1]. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated in April that his government would cooperate with whoever Trump nominated for the ambassadorial role [2].