President-elect Donald Trump has named Senator Marco Rubio as his principal diplomat. The announcement comes as the new administration readies itself to tackle a world fraught with conflict, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, and escalating competition with China in the Asia-Pacific region.
Rubio, known for his hard stance on many international policy matters, shares many of Trump’s viewpoints on pressing global issues, according to Behnam Ben Taleblu, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies based in Washington.
According to Taleblu, Rubio aligns with Trump ideologically and politically on numerous key national security matters such as countering China, Iran, and reinstating the maximum-pressure campaign.
Before his appointment as secretary of state, Rubio, in an extensive interview with the media, opined that the era of unchallenged US global dominance post the Soviet Union’s collapse has ended. He cautioned that the US can’t overextend itself with global obligations and must adopt a “pragmatic” approach in its foreign pursuits.
As a Cuban-American, Rubio played a key role in molding Trump’s approach to Venezuela during Trump’s first term (2017-2021). He was even referred to as Trump’s “virtual secretary of state for Latin America” by The New York Times.
Rubio brings a wealth of foreign policy experience to the role, having served on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. If confirmed by the Senate, 53-year-old Rubio would make history as the first Latino to serve as secretary of state.
Although Latin America will be a key area of focus for Rubio, his primary attention will be on more pressing US foreign policy issues like China’s global ascendance, Iran’s threat to the Middle East, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rubio is insistent that the focus of US military, political, and financial resources should primarily be on China. He has been a consistent advocate for a firm stance on China, leading initiatives to arm Taiwan and imposing tariffs on Chinese goods among other things.
Rubio has also shown strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in its defensive war against Russia. However, he believes that the US should encourage Europe to play a larger role in managing its own security issues, allowing the US to prioritize countering China in the Indo-Pacific.
In the Middle East, Rubio has been firm on Iran, describing its government as a “terrorist regime”. He has criticized the US’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal and has co-authored three bills sanctioning Iran that were signed into law this year.
In Afghanistan, Rubio has been critical of the Taliban, arguing that the group should be labeled as a “terrorist organization” by Washington. He introduced a bill in the Senate calling for an end to US aid to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Rubio’s appointment and his hardline stance on these international issues signal a robust foreign policy approach for the incoming administration.
