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WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Senator Marco Rubio to serve as his Secretary of State as the new administration gears up to tackle a world that is becoming more dangerous. Conflicts are ongoing in Europe and the Middle East, and tensions are rising with China in the Asia-Pacific region.
By selecting Rubio, a senator recognized for his hardline stance on various foreign policy matters, the president-elect aims to find a candidate who mostly aligns with his perspectives on critical international issues, according to Behnam Ben Taleblu, an analyst at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
"Rubio shares similar beliefs and political views with Trump regarding important national security topics such as competition with major world powers, addressing threats from China and Iran, and reviving the maximum-pressure strategy," Taleblu explained to RFE/RL.
During a comprehensive interview with the media last week, just before being appointed as secretary of state, Rubio acknowledged that the long-standing era of U.S. global supremacy that followed the downfall of the Soviet Union has come to an end. He noted that we are now entering a new period reminiscent of the Cold War. Rubio cautioned that the United States needs to be careful not to overextend itself with international obligations, emphasizing the need for Washington to take a practical approach to its foreign engagements.
"In a recent interview with EWTN on November 7, Rubio stated, 'While we may be the strongest nation, we still face constraints in our resources. Therefore, it's essential for us to allocate our time and finances to areas that align with our fundamental national priorities.'"
Rubio, who is of Cuban descent and American nationality, was key in influencing Trump's approach to Venezuela during his first four years in office from 2017 to 2021. The New York Times referred to him as Trump's "de facto secretary of state for Latin America" during that period.
The former Florida senator, who ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, brings a wealth of experience in foreign policy to his new role. He has been a member of both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee.
If the Senate gives its final approval, Rubio, who is 53 years old, would make history as the first Latino to hold the position of Secretary of State.
Although Latin America will undoubtedly be a key area of interest for Rubio, it will be secondary to more urgent U.S. foreign policy issues, such as the growing influence of China worldwide, the dangers posed by Iran in the Middle East, and Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
Top Priority: China
Rubio believes that the primary attention regarding U.S. military, political, and financial resources should be directed towards China.
"I believe that the events in the Indo-Pacific region will significantly shape the course of the 21st century. I also think that China would prefer to see us distracted by conflicts in Europe, rather than concentrating on developments in the Indo-Pacific," Rubio stated on November 7.
Rubio, who was a co-chairman of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, has consistently supported a tough stance towards China.
He spearheaded initiatives to provide weapons to Taiwan, which operates as an independent democracy but is claimed by Beijing. He advocated for direct deliveries of American arms and advanced military technology, aiming to dissuade China from launching an assault on the island.
Rubio has spoken out about China's record on human rights, advocated for a U.S. manufacturing strategy to enhance competitiveness against China, and supported imposing tariffs on products from China.
He aimed to prohibit the importation of Chinese products that were produced using forced labor from Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in western China. Additionally, he wanted to stop China from sidestepping the tariffs implemented during the Trump administration by moving its manufacturing operations to Mexico.
Rubio has consistently backed Ukraine's right to sovereignty and its territorial integrity as it defends itself against Russia. He has praised the Ukrainian people, calling them "incredibly courageous and resilient."
In February 2022, right after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, he collaborated with others in the Senate to support the NYET Act. This legislation was designed to strengthen Ukraine's defense efforts and introduce sanctions against Russia.
Nonetheless, Rubio has indicated that Russia's conflict with Ukraine has reached a point of deadlock and must be resolved.
He was one of the few senators who, earlier this year, disagreed with a foreign assistance bill that allocated $60 billion for aid to Ukraine. The bill ultimately received approval in April, raising the total U.S. support for Ukraine since February 2022 to nearly $175 billion—roughly equal to what all of Europe has contributed together.
Rubio has pointed out this disparity, stressing that the U.S. should encourage Europe to take on more responsibility for its own security. This way, the United States can focus more on addressing the challenges posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region.
During an interview with EWTN last week, Rubio expressed that it is "unreasonable" to think the United States will allocate tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine every ten months. He emphasized that NATO's European members should increase their financial support for the alliance.
"Each day in our country, we are faced with the challenge of figuring out how to support Americans while also meeting our defense needs that require significant funding. Meanwhile, the NATO countries in Europe seem to be avoiding this dilemma."
Rubio views Russia as a danger to the security of the United States and supports Ukraine's right to exist freely and independently. However, he believes that Ukraine must engage in negotiations to bring the conflict to a conclusion. Rubio pointed out that Russia has an overwhelming amount of resources, such as weapons and personnel, which enables it to persist in the conflict even after sustaining significant losses.
In the Middle East, Rubio has consistently adopted a stern position on Iran, calling its religious government a "terrorist regime" due to its financial support for organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, which the United States classifies as terrorist groups.
During his time as a senator, he strongly opposed the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA) forged by U.S. President Barack Obama. This deal aimed to limit Tehran's nuclear activities in return for easing certain sanctions.
Opponents of the agreement contended that it strengthened Iran by providing excessive relief from sanctions without any assurance that the country wouldn't eventually develop a nuclear weapon. In 2018, President Trump decided to withdraw the United States from the agreement and reinstated sanctions against Iran.
Recently, Rubio worked together with others to write three new laws aimed at penalizing Iran, which were enacted this year. These laws allow for sanctions on Iranian oil exports and prominent Iranian officials for their violations of human rights. They also target foreign organizations and governments that back Hamas. In October 2023, Hamas—a proxy of Iran—launched an assault on Israel, sparking a regional conflict that poses a risk of involving additional countries.
In September, Rubio took the Biden administration to task for not taking prompt action to enforce the sanctions on Iranian oil, which are intended to severely weaken the government's financial resources. He also pointed out the administration's lack of progress in implementing sanctions related to human rights.
According to analyst Taleblu, the challenges that the new administration encounters in Iran could significantly influence its actions once in office, especially considering the unstable conditions in the Middle East. He anticipates that if Senator Rubio were to lead the State Department, it would prioritize the enforcement of existing sanction legislation.
Rubio, a strong advocate for Israel, has affirmed the nation’s right to protect itself against threats from Iran. After Iran launched missile attacks on Israel on October 1, Rubio expressed his support for a response that could take unconventional measures.
Rubio has adopted a strong stance against the Taliban, insisting that the militant Islamist group should be labeled a "terrorist organization" by the U.S. government. In March, the senator from Florida proposed a bill in the Senate that aimed to stop American aid to Afghanistan under Taliban control, expressing concern that some of that funding might reach "terrorist groups."
During his speech to the Senate, Rubio expressed that "an Afghanistan under Taliban control represents a clear danger to the national security of the United States, as well as to our partners in the Middle East and Central Asia."
