Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said he had spoken of the importance of American leadership in the Indo Pacific region in a "very warm" call with new US Secretary for Defense Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.
The United States is Canberra's top security ally, and the far-left government of Anthony Albanese is seeking to continue close defence ties with the Trump administration, amid concern over China's military build-up, despite significant ideological differences.
Hegseth was confirmed in the role on Friday, a major victory for President Donald Trump.
"We talked about the importance of American leadership in the Indo Pacific. It was a really good call, and there was a warmth in it...a commitment to see American leadership within our region," Marles told reporters after his first call with Hegseth.
"American leadership has underpinned the global rules-based order since the end of the Second World War. It's absolutely clear to me that we will see a continuation of that under the Trump administration," Marles added.
The pair also discussed the need for progress on AUKUS, he said.
The trilateral AUKUS partnership with the United States and Britain is Australia's most expensive defence project, and will see the sale of US nuclear powered submarines to Australia, and a new class of AUKUS submarines built in Australia and Britain.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry)