US president-elect Donald Trump has tapped Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State and Congressman Mike Waltz as his National Security Advisor.
Rubio, 53, is considered to be a friend of India and has been an advocate of the India-US relationship, while Waltz, 50, is an old-India hand and has been co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for India and Indian Americans for years.
By picking Rubio and Waltz as his top diplomat and NSA guarantees a continuation of bi-partisan support and further strengthening of India-US relationship under the second Trump administration.
The news of these two major appointments came as the Republican party won a majority in the House of Representatives, thus giving Trump control over both the wings of the US Congress.
The role of NSA does not require Senate confirmation.
There has been no official statement from the Trump Transition Team.
“I'm thrilled for my friend, Florida colleague, and our next Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He will restore American leadership around the world, especially in Latin America, as he represents the United States with dignity and courage!” Florida Senator Rick Scott said.
Scott is seeking to be the Senate Majority Leader, which is currently being held by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.
“I am thrilled that President Trump has chosen Rep. Mike Waltz to serve as his National Security Adviser. There is no one more capable or qualified for this crucial role,” said Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Waltz, a Trump loyalist, is a combat-decorated Green Beret who served in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. He would be the first former Green Beret to hold the role.
Waltz has served in Congress since 2019. He has called for Europe to do more to support Ukraine and for the US to be more stringent with its support, aligning with a key foreign policy goal of the president-elect.
He has also been a staunch critic of the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, The Hill reported.
Earlier in the day, Trump announced the nomination of former Congressman from New York, Lee Zeldin, as The Administrator of The United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA).
He also nominated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to serve in his Cabinet as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Ro Khanna lauds Waltz
Indian-American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna said that Waltz would be “good" for the India-US relationship.
Khanna, 48, and Waltz, 50, are respectively the Democratic and Republican Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, which is the largest country-specific caucus in the House of Representatives.
Both Khanna and Waltz have worked together on a number of key issues related to India US relationship.
Waltz has spoken consistently against China and has been instrumental in several legislations in the House of Representatives. (PTI)
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