Marco Rubio on a smooth path to Senate confirmation as next secretary of state : NPR

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., testifies throughout his Senate International Relations affirmation listening to on Jan. 15.

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We’re following the affirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics protection, and comply with NPR’s Trump’s Phrases podcast or join our Politics publication to remain updated.

Who: Marco Rubio

Nominated for: secretary of state

You would possibly know him from: The Senate and because the high Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was additionally a candidate within the 2016 GOP presidential major race, the place Trump dubbed him “Little Marco” and Rubio warned voters to not assist Trump, saying “buddies don’t let buddies vote for con artists.”

Extra about Rubio:

• He can be the primary Latino within the publish.
• He’s recognized for hawkish stances on China, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. 
• His interventionist overseas coverage positions put him at odds with Trump, however now says he’ll comply with the president’s lead.

What does this position do: The secretary of state is fourth in line of succession to the president and the highest Cupboard place. The secretary oversees U.S. overseas coverage.

What’s occurred on the listening to:

Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio drew bipartisan assist amongst Senate International Relations Committee members at a listening to Wednesday and seems headed for affirmation underneath President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, was amongst an extended checklist of Republicans who lauded Rubio’s nomination, saying he was assured he was the particular person the nation will want within the position underneath Trump. For his half, Rubio saved some exchanges with senators gentle, however took a severe stance whereas making his case to grow to be the nation’s chief diplomat who will implement Trump’s directives.

“The overseas coverage of the USA can be set by the president, and my job is to advise on it and in the end to execute,” he instructed the committee. “I believe the president has been abundantly clear and that’s his coverage is about making American safer, stronger and extra affluent.”

As Republicans praised Rubio, Democrats additionally shared assist however concurrently raised considerations over his interventionist overseas coverage views that conflict with Trump’s positions. Rubio additionally confronted questions over conflicts of pursuits between Trump’s household enterprise ties with overseas nations.

The panel’s high Democrat, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, echoed different members of her social gathering who stated Rubio was properly certified for the brand new position. Nonetheless, she questioned him on U.S. alliances with NATO and Ukraine. Whereas Rubio stated he would comply with Trump’s directives, he nonetheless reiterated his protection of NATO and took intention at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“There is not any doubt about it, however this conflict has to finish,” Rubio stated of the Russia-Ukraine battle. “And I believe it needs to be the official coverage of the USA that we wish to see it finish.”

He added that Putin’s objective now’s to have most leverage, however Ukraine ought to have leverage, too. He did not rule out that Ukraine could have to make some concessions ultimately.

“It’ll be very tough,” he stated. “This won’t be straightforward.”

Rubio additionally famous a brand new Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal was a part of a number of optimistic developments within the area. Rubio argued to the committee that Israel has confronted a collection of existential threats, and in some methods, nonetheless does as we speak.

“It is not simply concerning the ceasefire as we speak — though that is essential. The excellent news is that probably we’ve had a dynamic shift within the area that has a historic alternative,” he stated. “If appropriately structured and purposed, that adjustments the dynamics of what may be doable.”

He additionally highlighted in his testimony his considerations that nations akin to China are encroaching on the Latin American nations of Panama, Nicaragua and extra. His hopes to additionally give attention to the Western Hemisphere in a brand new manner is unprecedented, and lots of allies say, welcomed.

“I believe the twenty first century can be outlined by what occurs between the USA and China,” Rubio stated.

He added, “What we will not ignore is that, on the present street that we’re on now, is an unbalanced relationship.”

Rubio additionally addressed Trump’s latest feedback on Greenland and the Panama Canal

On the Panama Canal, Rubio argued that lawmakers on either side of the aisle have raised challenge with its sovereignty, and potential threats.

“In a time of battle, China might use its presence on each ends of the canal as a chokepoint towards the USA,” he stated. Trump has steered the U.S. ought to take management of the Panama Canal.

He additionally added that Greenland stays strategically essential to the USA and to the West because of its geographic location and entry to minerals. And as extra navigable area is opening within the Arctic, it might minimize key transit occasions dramatically. Trump has expressed curiosity within the U.S. shopping for the island — which Denmark’s prime minister, who oversees the autonomous territory, has made clear shouldn’t be on the market.

“We’ve got to have companions alongside the Arctic area that can be a part of us in guaranteeing that the Arctic area is open without spending a dime and movement of navigation as these as these passages open up, as a result of world commerce is in some ways going to be infused by it,” Rubio stated.

The listening to was not a very easy assembly for Rubio. At its begin, it was punctuated with loud disruptions from a number of protesters who stood and yelled in English and Spanish. One referred to as Rubio “little Marco” and one other stated in Spanish that kids have been being murdered in Latin American nations. All of the protesters have been shortly eliminated forcibly from the room by U.S. Capitol Police.

“I get bilingual protesters!” Rubio quipped at one level.

Rubio’s affirmation course of could also be among the many best of Trump’s picks

A longtime member of the Senate International Relations Committee, Rubio is well-known by the lawmakers questioning him. The committee scheduled its subsequent assembly to take up the Rubio affirmation the day Trump is sworn in, establishing the potential he might be appointed to the position on the brand new administration’s first day.

If confirmed, the 53-year-old Florida Republican can be the primary Latino to function America’s high diplomat. Born in Florida, the son of Cuban immigrants was first elected senator in 2010 and gained a repute as a hawkish voice on China, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.

Rubio and Trump launched a collection of vicious assaults towards one another within the 2016 presidential election. That yr, Rubio instructed voters they need to not again Trump as candidate for president, saying “buddies don’t let buddies vote for con artists.” Trump dismissed him as “Little Marco.” Nonetheless, behind the scenes throughout that election, the 2 have been turning into unlikely allies. By 2024, Rubio turned a fixture on the marketing campaign path throughout Trump’s reelection bid. He was within the working to be his vp earlier than former Sen. J.D. Vance was picked as a substitute.

Rubio might nonetheless face loads of challenges, together with robust questions on why he voted towards help to Ukraine final yr, regardless of his earlier positions on Russia’s conflict there.

China has imposed sanctions on Rubio, which might make journey there tough. Rubio has accused China of a “grotesque marketing campaign of genocide” towards Uyghur Muslims and he wrote laws that banned imports from the Xinjiang area. This human rights advocacy has put him at odds with Trump ally Elon Musk, who opened a Tesla dealership in Xinjiang quickly after Rubio’s Uyghur Compelled Labor Prevention Act was signed into legislation in 2021.

Rubio additionally confronted demise threats after he spoke out towards the Venezuelan regime in 2017.

The outgoing Biden administration has made it a precedence to construct up alliances in Asia to counter China’s rise. On the State Division, Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrange “China Home,” an workplace that attracts on consultants throughout the U.S. authorities to give attention to China. That could be one workplace that Rubio will wish to hold.

The secretary of state oversees U.S. overseas coverage, however Trump has already chipped away at among the job of America’s high diplomat, by tapping quite a few particular envoys for Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon. He has additionally named a longtime overseas coverage adviser, Richard Grenell, who had been within the working for secretary of state, to function envoy for “particular missions.” “Ric will work in among the hottest spots across the World, together with Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump stated in a posting on his social media platform, Fact Social, saying the appointment.