Florida Senator Marco Rubio on Wednesday painted a grim view of the consequences of the United States’ “unbalanced relationship” with China, echoing President-elect Donald Trump’s anti-globalist rhetoric as he seeks to be confirmed as his Secretary of State. State.
Addressing issues plaguing the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe, Rubio focused much of his five-hour Senate confirmation hearing on warning that without rapid and substantial policy changes, China will remain the “greatest threat ” to American prosperity in the 21st century. .
“If we don’t change course, we will live in a world where much of what is important to us every day, from our safety to our health, will depend on whether the Chinese allow us to have it or not.” Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Asked about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which Trump has repeatedly criticized, Rubio affirmed its value, calling it a “very important alliance”. But Rubio supported Trump’s view that some European allies should contribute more to their collective defense, adding that the US must decide whether it wants “a primary defense role” or to be a “bulwark” against aggression.
Even before taking office, Trump provoked anguish in foreign capitals by threatening to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland and suggesting he will pressure Canada to become the country’s 51st state. When asked about the Canal on Wednesday, Rubio testified that while he has not “looked at the legal investigation,” he is “bound to suspect that it could be argued that the terms under which the canal was delivered were violated.” But he added that “Panama is a great partner on many other issues and I hope we can resolve this one.”
