PM says Trump's insult to troops 'not acceptable', as he names Greg Moriarty next ambassador to the US

Defence department boss Greg Moriarty will be the next Australian ambassador to the US, replacing outgoing ambassador Kevin Rudd.

Mr Moriarty has served as the Defence secretary for nearly a decade, and was previously chief of staff to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The secretary has also held senior roles in counter terrorism and has served as the ambassador to Indonesia and Iran.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his recommendation of Mr Moriarty while speaking on ABC Insiders.

"I know Mr Moriarty very well, and I have been impressed by the dignified way in which he handles himself," Mr Albanese said.

Mr Moriarty is the first non-political appointee to be named for the ambassadorship since Dennis Richardson ended his tenure in 2010.

Since then, it has been held by former Labor leader Kim Beazley, former Liberal treasurer Joe Hockey, former Liberal minister Arthur Sinodinos and former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd.

The prime minister said the Trump administration had been consulted on the appointment, as was the usual process.

In a statement Mr Rudd said he was "delighted" by Mr Moriarty's appointment.

"He is deeply familiar with AUKUS and will be a critical leader in driving AUKUS to implementation," Mr Rudd said.

"This relationship could be in no better hands."

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley welcomed the decision.

"Mr Moriarty has a proven track record of advancing Australia's national interest under both Labor and Liberal governments. He has served Australia in a distinguished career spanning diplomatic appointments and key roles in Australia's defence and intelligence communities," Ms Ley said in a statement.

"In a period of global uncertainty a strong alliance with the United States of America is more important than ever. Mr Moriarty is a safe pair of hands."

Trump's insult to troops in Afghanistan 'not acceptable'

Mr Moriarty will begin the ambassadorship as US tensions with its western allies mount over President Donald Trump's demands for Greenland to be handed to the US and his administration's ongoing tariff campaign.

Mr Trump has also upset US allies who fought alongside the nation in Afghanistan for most of this century after he downplayed this involvement, saying NATO-allied troops "stayed a little off the front lines".

The president walked back those remarks after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanded an apology, calling British troops "great and very brave".

Mr Albanese said Mr Trump's remarks were "not acceptable".

"I note that President Trump has made a new statement overnight as well in which he's acknowledged the contribution," he said.

"Those 47 Australian families [of soldiers who died fighting in Afghanistan] will be hurting by these comments, they deserve our absolute respect, admiration.

"The bravery that was shown by 40,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan, they were certainly on the front lines." 

Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie, who served in Afghanistan, said on social media overnight that Mr Trump's remarks were "a massive slur".

"One of the most important things in building coalitions and alliances is mutual respect, and a really important virtue in a leader is restraint. President Trump by dumping on allied troops has shown neither," Mr Hastie said.

PM: Trump's 'Board of Peace' pitch unclear

Mr Albanese also confirmed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would visit Australia in March.

The prime minister said he agreed with incendiary remarks made by Mr Carney at the recent World Economic Forum at Davos that middle powers like Australia and Canada must act together "because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu".

In his first major interview of the year, Mr Albanese also remarked on a new global power structure pitched by Mr Trump, which the president would also lead, dubbed the Board of Peace.

Mr Trump's Board of Peace was conceived as a tight-knit group of world leaders that could oversee the post-war reconstruction of Gaza and the deployment of a peacekeeping force. 

But as Mr Trump's ambitions have grown for the Board of Peace, many Western nations have turned against it.

France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany have raised concerns about the group, or rejected it entirely, while Israel, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Hungary are among those who have accepted an invitation.

Asked whether he held concerns that Mr Trump was seeking to subvert the United Nations with his Board of Peace, Mr Albanese said its purpose was not clear.

"It's unclear what the objectives of this are, which is why we will give it further consideration," Mr Albanese said.

"We're engaged with our like-minded countries as well about all of these issues … we do have a shift in the way international politics is being played."

Mr Rudd's ambassadorship ends on March 31.