Donald Trump is reportedly planning to appoint U.S. Senator Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, according to sources on Monday. This move would position the Florida native to become the first Latino to hold the role of America’s chief diplomat when the Republican president-elect assumes office in January.

Rubio has been considered one of the more hawkish candidates on Trump‘s list for the position, having previously championed a robust foreign policy approach towards nations such as China, Iran, and Cuba.

In recent years, he has moderated some of his positions to better align with Trump’s perspective. The president-elect has criticized previous administrations for engaging the U.S. in expensive and ineffective military conflicts, advocating instead for a more restrained approach to foreign affairs.

While Trump is known for his unpredictable nature, sources indicated that he seemed to have made a definitive choice as of Monday, although they requested anonymity to share details of private discussions.

Representatives for Trump and Rubio did not provide immediate comments when approached for their input.

The incoming administration will face a global landscape that is more unstable and perilous than it was at the start of Trump’s presidency in 2017, with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and China strengthening its ties with adversaries of the U.S., namely Russia and Iran.

The situation in Ukraine will be a priority for Rubio.

In recent interviews, Rubio, 53, has indicated that Ukraine should pursue a negotiated resolution with Russia instead of concentrating solely on reclaiming all territories lost to Russia over the past decade. He was also among the 15 Republican senators who opposed a $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine that was approved in April.

Although Rubio is not the most isolationist candidate, his potential appointment highlights a significant shift in the Republican Party’s foreign policy stance under Trump.

Historically, the party was characterized by hawkish figures advocating for military intervention and a robust foreign policy; however, many of Trump’s supporters now emphasize restraint, especially in Europe, where there are widespread concerns among Republicans regarding U.S. allies not contributing adequately to defense expenditures.

I do not support Russia; however, the reality is that the resolution to the conflict in Ukraine will likely come through a negotiated agreement, Rubio stated in an NBC interview in September.

Rubio’s appointment carries significant implications both domestically and internationally. Trump secured victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, partly by appealing to a substantial number of Latino voters, a group that had previously leaned heavily Democratic but is now showing increasing political diversity, with more Latinos opting for Republican candidates.

By appointing Rubio to a prominent policy position, Trump may strengthen his electoral support among Latinos and signal that they are represented at the highest levels of his administration.

If confirmed, Rubio is expected to prioritize Latin America more than any of his predecessors in the role of secretary of state, according to Mauricio Claver-Carone, a supporter of Rubio and former president of the Inter-American Development Bank, who also served on the National Security Council focusing on Latin America during Trump’s first term.

“This is a pivotal moment for Latin America to gain prominence in the history of any U.S. presidency. It is unprecedented,” Claver-Carone remarked.

 CHINA, CUBA HAWK

Rubio was among the final three candidates considered for Trump’s vice-presidential selection. Ultimately, the president-elect opted for U.S. Senator JD Vance from Ohio, a staunch right-wing figure recognized for his isolationist stance on foreign policy. Some of Trump’s supporters may question the choice of Rubio, who, until recently, advocated for a robust foreign policy that contrasts with Trump’s approach. For example, during Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021, Rubio co-sponsored a bill aimed at complicating Trump’s ability to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, necessitating a two-thirds Senate approval for such a move.

Trump has consistently criticized NATO member nations for not meeting their agreed-upon military spending commitments. During his campaign, he indicated that he would not only decline to defend countries that are “delinquent” in their funding but would also suggest that Russia should feel free to act as it wishes towards them.

Rubio is recognized as a leading advocate for a tough stance on China within the Senate and faced sanctions from Beijing in 2020 due to his position on Hong Kong amid democracy protests.

In a significant move, Rubio urged the Treasury Department in 2019 to conduct a national security review regarding the acquisition of Musical.ly by the widely used Chinese social media platform TikTok, which led to an investigation and a problematic divestment order.

As the leading Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, he has maintained pressure on the Biden administration, insisting that it prohibit all transactions with Huawei earlier this year after the sanctioned Chinese technology firm introduced a new laptop featuring an Intel AI processor chip.

Rubio, whose grandfather escaped Cuba in 1962, is a vocal opponent of establishing normalized relations with the Cuban government, a viewpoint that aligns with Trump’s stance. Additionally, as the head of the House subcommittee responsible for Latin American affairs, he is a staunch and frequent critic of Nicolas Maduro’s regime in Venezuela.