President-elect Donald J. Trump’s 2.0 team has provoked scrutiny after he assembled the list of people he wants to serve during his second term. It seems that he favored their loyalty to him and shared a Chauvinist worldview as the main qualification for their selection. His first term was auspiced by “America First,” and the whole world is watching the new cabinet. This team has the potential to influence existing political dynamics, such as the Middle East crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S.-China rivalry, and, last but not least, its impact on Pakistan.

President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated Senator Marco Rubio of Florida to be the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State. Marco Rubio currently serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. He has always condoned a hardline approach toward China that can cajole Trump to shape foreign policy directions.

He gave a talk at the Heritage Foundation, where he said: “The gravest threat facing America today—is the challenge that will define not just this century, but my generation and every generation represented here in this room today—that challenge is not climate change, it’s not the pandemic, it’s not the left’s version of social justice. The threat that will define this century is China.”

More importantly, he is among those who endorse Taiwanese independence that contravenes the U.S. government’s long-standing One China policy. Consequently, China has banned him over his allegations against China for violating human rights. His hawkish stance is not limited to China but also includes Iran and Venezuela. These countries were frequently criticized during the campaign trail by Mr. Trump.

© The Spine Times