US President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated Caroline Kennedy to be US ambassador to Australia and Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan as ambassador to Belize, the White House said.

Kennedy, 64, is the daughter of John Kennedy, the 35th US President who was assassinated in 1963. She previously served as US ambassador to Japan from 2013-2017 under former President Barack Obama.

Kwan is the winner of two silver Olympic medals in figure skating. She has served as an adviser to the US department of state on women’s issues. Australia is a key ally to the US and that relationship has strengthened in response to China’s growing power and increasingly assertive behaviour in Asia and beyond.