The U.S. Senate on Monday unanimously confirmed the nomination of Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a staunch opponent of China and strong supporter of Israel, as Secretary of State in the administration of newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.
The Senate approved Rubio with 99 votes in favor and none against, just days after a hearing on his nomination before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rubio is the first nominee for a position in Trump’s cabinet to be confirmed by the Senate, mere hours after Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
Votes on other Trump cabinet nominees are expected later this week.
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Rubio (53), the son of Cuban immigrants, has advocated for stricter measures against Cuba and its allies, particularly the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, during his tenure as a senator.
During his confirmation hearing, Rubio warned that the U.S. must change course to avoid becoming more dependent on China and announced plans for a stronger foreign policy centered on American interests.
He also stated that U.S. policy should aim to end the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that any ceasefire agreement would require concessions from both Moscow and Kyiv. Rubio suggested that Ukraine might need to abandon its goal of reclaiming all the territory Russia has occupied over the past decade.
Rubio is the first Hispanic American to hold the position of the nation’s top diplomat.
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Source: Glas Amerike, Photo: Reuters