President Trump is proceeding with personnel changes for the next administration, and it is reported that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is likely to become Secretary of State.
Walz and Rubio are known for their strong views on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Walz will succeed Jake Sullivan as NSA director after Trump is inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20 next year. He will continue to focus on the Critical and Emerging Technologies Initiative launched in January 2023 by the U.S. and Indian National Security Agency (NSA), the people said.
After being elected co-chair of the Indian caucus in January last year, he said India is the world’s largest democracy and an important strategic partner for the United States.
At the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in India, Walz had signed a letter with India Caucus co-chairs Congressman Brad Sherman and Congressman Steve Chabot to rush medical supplies to India. The letter, dated April 29, 2021, said it is in the interest of the United States for all Indian citizens to be vaccinated.
Walz has consistently opposed China and helped pass several bills in the House of Representatives. He has criticized the disorderly US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
If Rubio is elected secretary of state, he would be the first person of Latin American descent to serve as America’s top diplomat. Mr. Rubio has been vocal about strengthening ties with India, positioning it as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, but he has taken a tough stance on China.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Rubio said in a recent interview that Ukraine needs to seek a negotiated settlement with Russia instead of focusing on regaining territory occupied by Russia. He was one of 15 Republican senators who voted against the $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine passed in April. He has taken strong positions on the Hamas-Israel conflict and supports Israel as a key ally of the United States.
Rubio has supported limited exemptions for India under the US federal law Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which imposes sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. Several years ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment authorizing India to be exempted from CAATSA for its purchase of S-400 missile defense systems from Russia aimed at deterring China.
