After a vacancy of more than two years, the US will have a new ambassador in Canberra following the confirmation of Arthur Culvahouse.

Trump's pick, prominent Washington lawyer Arthur Culvahouse, was confirmed on Wednesday as one of the final acts of the Senate's current term.

The US has been without an ambassador in Canberra for more than two years, with Trump's first pick, former Pacific Command commander Harry Harris, switched to take the ambassador role in South Korea.

US President Donald Trump put forward the long-time Republican Party figure as his pick for ambassador to Australia in November.

Australia is a key US ally in the strategically important Asia Pacific region where China is asserting greater influence, especially in the disputed South China Sea.

Mr Culvahouse is a lawyer and counsel to former US President Ronald Reagan.

In 2016, Culvahouse led vetting of Mike Pence as Republican Party nominee for vice president.

In 1989, Reagan awarded Culvahouse the Presidential Citizens’ Medal, the White House said in a statement on Monday. In 1992, then Secretary of Defense Cheney awarded him the Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.