Bad news for Pakistan, China, good news for India as Donald Trump set to make this BIG move

In July last year, Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill in the US Congress to strengthen the US-India partnership and counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

After winning the presidential election, US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Florida Senator Marco Rubio as the next secretary of state, a role similar to an external affairs minister. Trump praised Rubio as a “fearless warrior” and “a true friend to our allies.” At his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Rubio received a warm welcome from both Republican and Democrat senators, signaling that his approval might be one of the smoothest among Trump’s top nominees. Rubio had earlier served on the Senate’s Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, where he gained expertise in international affairs. “I believe you have the skills and are well qualified to serve as secretary of state,” said Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen in her opening remarks.

Rubio is known for taking a tough stance on countries like China, Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela. He has also expressed a strong pro-India position in line with his critical views on China and Pakistan.

Marco Rubio wants close India-US defence ties

In July last year, Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill in the US Congress to strengthen the US-India partnership and counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. The bill proposed treating India on par with key US allies like Japan, Israel, and NATO nations for technology transfers and military cooperation. It also sought to bar Pakistan from receiving security aid if found supporting terrorism against India.

Rubio emphasized the importance of supporting India against China’s aggression and promoting cooperation in defense, technology, space, medicine, and investments. The bill included a provision to exempt India from CAATSA sanctions for buying Russian military equipment. Although unlikely to pass due to time constraints, it could be reintroduced in the next Congress, as India-US ties enjoy bipartisan support.

Rubio called Pakistan ‘a third-rate power’

In a 2021 Congressional hearing on Afghanistan, Senator Marco Rubio criticized Pakistan for helping the Taliban. He said several US administrations had ignored how Pakistan gave the Taliban safe places to train, recruit, and recover. Rubio warned this hurt US credibility, especially with India, and made it harder to counter China’s influence in the region.

He also noted that Pakistan’s support strengthened pro-Taliban groups in its government and made India doubt if the US could be relied on. Rubio highlighted how the Taliban depended on Pakistan despite facing losses. Earlier in 2017, Rubio and other senators called for Pakistan to be labeled a “country of particular concern” due to its unfair laws and violations of religious freedom.

Rubio’s stance on China

At his confirmation hearing, Marco Rubio shared his views on China, warning that the U.S. must reduce its reliance on the country. He promised a strong foreign policy centered on American interests and emphasized the need to boost U.S. industries. Rubio said if the U.S. continues on its current path, it could become dependent on China for essential things like medicine and entertainment, which he called unacceptable.

Rubio criticized China for benefiting from the global system while ignoring its responsibilities. He accused China of lying, stealing, and hacking to become a global power at America’s expense. Known as a “China hawk,” Rubio has long supported a tougher approach toward China. He backed sanctions and restrictions on Chinese tech companies like Huawei and raised concerns about TikTok’s security risks due to its ties to China.

In 2020, China imposed sanctions on Rubio because of his support for Hong Kong activists and the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. These sanctions bar him from visiting China, and it’s unclear how this will affect his interactions with Chinese officials if he becomes secretary of state.