(AFP) – Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed his pick of Mike Waltz, a former US special forces officer and a noted foreign policy hawk, for the influential role of national security advisor. Trump described the Republican congressman as “a nationally recognized leader in national security” and “an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”
The decorated former Green Beret is set to be one of Trump’s closest advisors in the incoming US administration, as it faces a raft of foreign policy challenges, including the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon. Waltz has publicly framed China as an “existential” threat to the United States. He is harshly critical of Russia’s government, while arguing that the current US policy of boosting Ukraine’s war effort needs to end in favor of Trump’s so-far vague promise of a negotiated settlement. “Just pouring more billions in (to Ukraine) is the definition of insanity at this point,” he has said.
The Florida congressman delivered a speech praising Trump at the Republican National Convention in July in which he called for “peace through America’s strength.” In a statement, Trump described Waltz as “a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda.”
Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson lauded “a brilliant and faithful patriot,” who had made it his “life’s mission” to help protect the United States. “He is the perfect person to advise President Trump and defend our interests on the world stage,” Johnson said in a statement.
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