As the Donald Trump administration sets about tearing up the foundations of the international order and US global leadership – discarding decades worth of soft power – it is an understatement to say that middle powers like Australia are left in an extremely delicate position.

Trump has imposed tariffs on allies and abandoned Ukraine to the predations of Russia, while attempting to strong arm Kyiv out of its mineral resources and lay claim to other countries’ sovereign territory.

While the fundamentals of the Australia-US alliance seemingly remain in place – for now – how would the government respond if Donald Trump or his online attack dog and “special government employee” Elon Musk’s ire turned on Australia or major bilateral and regional agreements in Asia?

Quiet, slow and steady has been the approach so far. Bend with the breeze and adjust to speak Trump’s language.

The government and senior officials have sought to make the case for Australia as clearly and confidently as possible, while looking to articulate existing programs and commitments in a way that is compatible with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s framing of US foreign policy: does this action make America safer, stronger and more prosperous?

One example of this is that Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell has already pivoted to framing the $368 billion cost of the AUKUS program as a potential investment in the United States, rather than emphasising the new submarines’ deterrent purpose, as was previously the norm.

However, the transactional, extractive nature of Trump’s present foreign policy........

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