Expertise in Asia-Pacific relations amid growing regional tension will leave former prime minister Kevin Rudd well placed in his new role of ambassador to the US, according to foreign policy experts.
The ex-Labor leader, who will take up the post in March, says he's honoured to be stepping up.
Dr Rudd served as Australia's 26th prime minister after being elected in 2007. He then lost the leadership in a spill in 2010 before re-taking the job in 2013, only for Labor to lose the federal election in September that year.
In the wake of rising tensions in the Pacific due to the role of China in the region, international security professor at the Australian National University John Blaxland said Dr Rudd would be keenly looked out for by US officials.
"It's going to put in a very good stead, with an expertise that will be sought after by powerbrokers in Washington, and in that capacity, he has the potential to influence views and decisions," he told AAP.
"On paper he could be the best ambassador we've ever had, in very challenging circumstances, he understands and knows the US now as well as anyone on the Australian side."
While he has previously been critical of former US president Donald Trump, Dr Rudd said he had forged relationships across the American political spectrum.
"Over the past decade, I have had the pleasure of building relationships with Republicans and Democrats across politics and have developed close personal ties with American business, civil society and the media," he said.
"(Australia's) national interest continues to be served ... by the deepest and most effective strategic engagement of the United States in our region."
Dr Rudd's appointment has been welcomed by predecessor Joe Hockey, who served as US ambassador between 2016 and 2020.
The former Liberal treasurer said Dr Rudd was a good appointment for Australia.
"It says a lot that you now have American royalty in the form of Caroline Kennedy, who is the American ambassador to Australia with a direct line to the president and a former prime minister for Australia with a direct line to the prime minister," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
"It certainly elevates the relationship to a new level."
Opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham said Dr Rudd must devote his attention and energy to supporting the AUKUS trilateral security pact, under which the US and United Kingdom will help Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
"It's critical that the person occupying that post delivers in Australia's national interest, handles the sensitive issues that go through Washington with deft diplomacy and skill and with great care and with diligence, and (Prime Minister) Anthony Albanese is putting his faith in Kevin Rudd to do that," he told Sky News on Wednesday.
"We, of course, want to see international success for Australia and need to see our relationship with the United States succeed."
Mr Hockey said Dr Rudd's knowledge of China would be a key asset amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
"I have no doubt that at the end of the day, he'll give Australia some diplomatic oomph. That is so necessary in a very hotly contested environment," he said.
"Washington DC is the modern Rome. And you need to have a history, you need to have a presence in order to have a voice and be heard. And I'm very confident that Kevin Rudd will be heard."
