Senator Marco Rubio will be a candidate for the position of Secretary of State, while Republican Mike Waltz will serve as National Security Advisor.
According to Reuters, citing its own sources, these decisions are final. If confirmed by the Senate, Rubio's appointment could be historic: he would become the first Latino to hold the position of U.S. Secretary of State. Rubio is known for his tough stance on China, Iran, and Cuba, aligning with Trump's foreign policy principles, which aim to avoid prolonged and costly military conflicts.
Specifically, Rubio believes that Ukraine should focus on a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Russia rather than attempting to reclaim all occupied territories. At the same time, Rubio has extensive experience in international security matters. He actively opposes rapprochement with Cuba, criticizes the expansion of Chinese companies in the U.S., and has called for national security investigations regarding the acquisition of the Chinese company ByteDance's TikTok platform.
Meanwhile, Mike Waltz, known as a proponent of strengthening U.S. defense, has become the National Security Advisor. He supports a tough policy toward China, believing that America should be prepared for a potential conflict in the Pacific region. Waltz also criticizes the current state of the Pentagon, arguing that national defense should be more effective and transparent.
Waltz's military experience, his service as a Green Beret, and his collaboration with defense secretaries in previous administrations lend him authority on security issues. He is known to have been one of the active critics of the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in 2021 and has advocated for a more aggressive approach to strengthening U.S. defense in Asia. In the Russia-Ukraine war, Waltz initially supported Ukraine but later stated the need to reassess the position on aid to Kyiv.
The individuals Trump chooses for his team reflect a shift in sentiments regarding support for Ukraine.
Source: reuters.