Former prime minister Kevin Rudd will keep alive his foreign policy aspirations by leaving for the United States tomorrow to attend the annual US-Australian dialogue.
Mr Rudd, a founding member of the dialogue, has attended every meeting for the past 17 years.
During the week in New York and Washington, Mr Rudd will chair a session on national security.
He has no plans to leave politics and wants to serve as a minister in the government.
But he has been told by his replacement, Julia Gillard, he must wait until after the election, if Labor wins.
Mr Rudd is understood to want the foreign affairs portfolio - held by Stephen Smith - and, as a former prime minister, he should be entitled to receive it.
His trip to the United States will be regarded as a clear sign Mr Rudd's great interest lies in foreign policy.
He will be accompanied by his wife, Therese Rein, and be away for a week.
Phillip Coorey is The Sydney Morning Herald's Chief Political Correspondent.
Source: The Canberra Times
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