Yet another mega pro-New Delhi stance !! India backer and a known anti-China hawk Marco Rubio will be new Secretary of State

Trump picks India backer, China hawk Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

Marco Rubio is a leading China hawk in the Senate, and a vocal advocate for strengthening ties with India. Over the years, he has championed efforts to deepen US-India cooperation in defence and trade.

If confirmed, Rubio would be the first Latino to serve as America’s top diplomat once Trump takes office in January.

Rubio – who has spent more than a decade focused on the “China threat” theory – was sanctioned along with five other US lawmakers by the Chinese government in 2020 for “behaving badly on Hong Kong-related issues.” 

Now, current and former US officials say that China is likely going to have to remove those sanctions in order to deal with him.

“Getting Rubio is worse for China than getting Pompeo again,” said a former Trump administration official.

Rubio, a Florida native, was seen as one of the more hawkish candidates on Trump’s shortlist. 

Over the years, he has advocated for a strong-arm approach to America’s foes, calling for firm responses to challenges posed by nations like China, Iran, and Cuba.  

Trump’s decision to tap Rubio, a former rival for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, signals a potential shift in his foreign policy direction, blending traditional Republican views with his own reform-oriented positions. 

Known for his support of key alliances and critical stance on US adversaries, Rubio, 53, brings a complex and seasoned foreign policy perspective to the role, shaped by his years in the Senate.  

Rubio has been a vocal advocate for strengthening ties with India, positioning the country as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the years, he has championed efforts to deepen US-India cooperation, particularly in the areas of defence and trade.

Rubio’s support for India aligns with bipartisan efforts in Congress to counterbalance China’s influence in Asia. 

He has frequently highlighted the strategic importance of a strong India-US relationship,