According to reports, Trump will select China hawk Marco Rubio over Vivek Ramaswamy as secretary of state.

Marco Rubio, a prominent China hawk in the US Senate, has always supported an assertive stance against America's main enemies.

Three sources told Reuters on Monday (local time) that US President-elect Donald Trump is likely to appoint Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State, making him the first Latino to hold the position in the face of escalating tensions with China and Iran.

The most conservative candidate on the shortlist, a 53-year-old senator from Florida, was chosen by Trump, though he might alter his mind at any time. With battles continuing in Gaza and Ukraine and China becoming closer to US adversaries Russia and Iran, Rubio, the top American diplomat, is expected to cope with a more unstable globe than Trump's 2017 administration.

Rubio has long supported a more assertive foreign policy toward America's geopolitical enemies, such as China, Iran, and Cuba, and was elected to the Senate in 2010. Over the past few years, he has loosened some of his positions to better reflect Trump's beliefs.

Rubio is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump could solidify Latino victories and demonstrate that they have a place at the top of his government by appointing Rubio to a significant policy position.

ABC News reports that Indian-American businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, a significant Trump campaign backer, was also being considered for the position of Secretary of State alongside Marco Rubio. This followed a string of high-profile nominations to the Trump 2.0 Cabinet, including the White House Chief of Staff and national security adviser.

Opinions of Marco Rubio Regarding the Russia-Ukraine War
Rubio has stated in recent interviews that Ukraine should pursue a negotiated settlement with Russia instead of concentrating on reclaiming all of the area that Russia has stolen over the past ten years, even if the majority of his suggested policies were directed at China and Iran. In April, a $95 billion military aid plan for Ukraine was approved, but he was one of 15 Republican senators who voted against it.

In September, Rubio told NBC, "I'm not on Russia's side — but the reality is that the way the war in Ukraine is going to end is with a negotiated settlement." This occurs in the midst of widespread skepticism regarding Trump's plan to stop the conflict in Ukraine immediately.

Given his close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, many people believe that Trump's plan to end the war will result in Moscow seizing control of the seized territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, while preventing Ukraine from joining NATO.

The Disparities Between Rubio and Other Republicans
"The Cuban-origin Rubio found himself at odds with other Republicans who have been skeptical of his proposed approach to China and Iran after he was elected to the Senate," the New York Times reported. Rubio co-sponsored legislation during Trump's first term that would have made Trump's decision to leave NATO more difficult.

For years, Trump has blasted NATO members who have not met agreed-upon military expenditure targets. During the campaign, he threatened to not only refuse to defend countries that are "delinquent" on their payments, but also to allow Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to them.

Trump branded him "Little Marco" during his 2016 presidential run against the president-elect, who referred to him as a "con artist" and the "most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency." He did, however, moderate his position and get ready for his first debate with Joe Biden in 2020. This year, he was a candidate to be Trump's running mate.