Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, is reportedly considering Senator Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican and outspoken Taliban critic, for the position of Secretary of State, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Rubio has long pushed for a hardline stance on the Taliban, advocating for their designation as a “terrorist organization” by the U.S. government. In March, he introduced a Senate bill calling for an end to U.S. aid to Afghanistan under Taliban rule, citing concerns that funds could be accessed by “terrorist groups.”
At that time, Rubio also urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to officially classify the Taliban-led government as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
In his remarks to the Senate, Rubio argued, “A Taliban-controlled Afghanistan poses a direct threat to U.S. national security interests and to our allies in the Middle East and Central Asia. The Biden administration’s failed withdrawal turned Afghanistan into a safe haven for anti-American terrorists. Designating the Taliban as a terrorist organization is the logical next step.”
According to Reuters, if confirmed, Rubio would be the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State, marking a historic moment in Trump’s second administration. The Florida senator has in recent years aligned more closely with Trump’s foreign policy approach, frequently criticizing the Biden administration’s international strategies.
Sources indicated that Trump made the decision to nominate Rubio on Monday, though representatives for Trump and Rubio have not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
At 53, Rubio brings experience and a history of diverging from bipartisan foreign policy measures, including his recent opposition to a $95 billion U.S. military aid package to Ukraine approved in April. His potential appointment would signal a significant shift in Republican foreign policy priorities under Trump’s leadership.
