Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has dashed to Washington for a series of high-level meetings as the US seeks to soothe relations with allies bruised in the early days of the Trump administration.

Usually, the presence of an Australian foreign minister in Washington is barely noted beyond the canape tray of diplomatic circles - but this trip will be closely scrutinised, following so soon after the controversy about the now infamous "worst call" between President Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull.

Analysts are carefully watching - perhaps hoping - for signs the US is reverting to a more conventional foreign policy after the early volley of presidential firecrackers.

Australia has won a new notoriety in US politics over recent weeks, shared between popular late-night talk shows as well as foreign policy boffins, as a harbinger for how Mr Trump has performed.