Former Australian deputy PM brands US failure to appoint ambassador a diplomatic insult

Australia's former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer has condemned the United States over its failure to appoint an ambassador to Canberra, describing the prolonged vacancy as a diplomatic insult to the nation.

Fischer, who previously served as Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, argued that leaving such a senior diplomatic post unfilled sends a damaging signal about how Washington regards its alliance with Canberra.

The absence of a US ambassador has drawn growing attention amid broader questions about the state of the bilateral relationship between the two long-standing allies.