Biden nominates JFK’s daughter Caroline Kennedy as ambassador to Australia

Washington, Dec 15 (EFE).- United States President Joe Biden has chosen Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John F. Kennedy, as the country’s ambassador to Australia, the White House announced in a statement Wednesday.

Biden’s nomination now goes to the Senate for confirmation.

Caroline Kennedy already served as US ambassador to Japan during the Barack Obama administration, during which Biden was vice president.

The friend, ally and donor of Biden supported his candidacy for the presidency in early 2020 and spoke on his behalf during the Democratic Convention.

In a statement published by US media, Kennedy described Australia as “a country that is as vital to our future security and prosperity as Australia.”

“I look forward to collaborating with the Government of Australia to strengthen our alliance, improve global health and increase vaccine access during this terrible pandemic and to address the urgent climate crisis. I am excited to get to know the Australian people, learn about their fascinating country and share with them what I love most about America,” she added.

Australia is a key ally of the US against China, and the countries have extensive commercial and military ties.

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States signed the AUKUS security agreement in September to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, criticized by Beijing as promoting an arms race.

Under that pact, Washington will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, to the detriment of France, which saw a $60 billion contract it had with Canberra canceled.

Kennedy is the second person from the famous family appointed by Biden to a diplomatic post after Victoria, the widow of JFK’s younger brother Ted Kennedy, who was nominated as ambassador to Austria and confirmed by the Senate.

Kennedy’s nomination was announced on Wednesday, coinciding with the declassification by the Biden government of 1,491 secret documents related to the murder of her father in Dallas, Texas, in 1963.

While riding in a presidential motorcade, the Democratic president was assassinated by former US Marine Lee Harvey Oswald, who, according to the official investigation of the Warren Commission, acted alone, which some historians and scholars continue have raised doubts about. EFE

ssa/tw