Trump's new NSA Waltz is 'India caucus' head, also a China critic and known for critical stance on Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan

US President-elect Donald Trump has asked Florida Representative Mike Waltz, who is the head of India caucus, to be his National Security Advisor. 

He has also echoed Donald Trump's allegations of a “woke” military that is allegedly “soft” and remains “too focussed” on diversity and other inclusivity programmes.

Mike Waltz, 50, is a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, and is expected to bring a hawkish approach to national security that aligns closely with Trump's promises of strengthening American security. Waltz, a three-term GOP representative from east-central Florida, was the first Green Beret elected to the US House, and won was re-elected last week.

 Mike Waltz played a key role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at Capitol Hill during his visit to the US in 2023.

Mike Waltz has another image of being a 'China critic'.  

Known for his hawkish stance on China, Waltz had called for a US boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics over the origin of Covid19.

As the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Mike Waltz was known for aggressive questioning of the president Joe Biden's botched withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, which left a large number of weapons in the hands of the Taliban. 

What could sound good for New Delhi policy makers is that Mike advocated for advancing US defence and security cooperation with India. 

He also served at multiple US deployments in Afghanistan and the Middle East, where he earned several awards, including the Bronze Star. He also served as an Afghanistan policy adviser at the Pentagon under then Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Loyalists of the president-elect, including Lee Zeldin, one of his staunchest impeachment defenders, and Tom Homan, who served in his last administration, have been tapped for top roles in climate and immigration

Republicans are edging closer to taking full control of Congress - they already have the Senate and counting for the House continues. 

New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Trump's new ambassador to the United Nations, became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress in 2014, then aged 30. She continues to represent New York’s 21st District.  

Notably, Trump has said Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo - who both served in his first administration - will not be offered new positions.