Trump 2.0: Marco Rubio likely to be the new US Secretary of State
US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State. According to people close to Trump, he appears to have settled on Rubio, whom he also considered when choosing his running mate this year.
CREDIT: AP
This would mean that Indian-origin entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy will not be holding one of the most powerful offices in the US. Ramaswamy, who was a Republican presidential hopeful before he dropped out and endorsed Trump, was expected to get a key position in Trump 2.0. Many believe that Ramaswamy will be a part of Trump 2.0 in some other capacity.
According to some analysts, Rubio's appointment as Secretary of State, along with other nominees so far, gives a clear indication of what Trump 2.0's key focus will be – China.
Trump who has indicated that he can end the war in Ukraine in a matter of 24 hours is widely expected to focus on China, something which he had done the last time he was in office.
CREDIT: AP
Rubio, who was born to Cuban-American parents, is known for taking hard lines on China, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba.
Rubio has been among the most outspoken senators on the need for the United States to be more aggressive on China. He has adopted positions that later became more mainstream in both parties, including the industrial policy meant to help the United States better compete with China’s state-directed economy.
Rubio's appointment as Secretary of State would complement the nomination of Mike Waltz as Trump's National Security Adviser.
Waltz, a former Green Beret, is also known for his hawkish stance on China.
The duo also have similar views on the Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Also read: Who is Mike Waltz, the India Caucus head picked as the next National Security Advisor?
CREDIT: AP
The two appointments will be key architects of Trump's "America First" foreign policy, with the incoming president having promised to end the wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East and avoid any more American military entanglements.
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