WASHINGTON, July 23 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emerged as a key force behind President Donald Trump’s increasingly hawkish stance on major foreign policy fronts, according to a report by the Financial Times.
The paper highlights Rubio’s behind-the-scenes influence in steering the Trump administration toward tougher positions on Russia, Venezuela, Iran, and China. Citing allies of the secretary, the FT writes that Rubio has not only remained true to his longstanding principles but has also actively worked to defend and advance them from within the administration.
“In the case of China, Russia, Ukraine, and Iran, we’re seeing a renewed U.S. foreign policy and the restoration of American leadership globally,” said a close friend and former adviser to Rubio. “That’s largely due to the high-level advice the Secretary is providing to the president and senior officials on a daily basis.”
According to the FT, Rubio’s entry into the administration marked a noticeable shift in policy compared to his earlier advocacy for U.S. soft power and openness to immigration. One notable example is his sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), along with a sharper rhetoric on immigration issues.
The report portrays Rubio as a key architect of Washington’s renewed assertiveness on the world stage, positioning him as one of the most influential figures shaping the contours of American diplomacy today.
