Confronting China, winding down Ukraine: Rubio outlines priorities of Trump White House

The US president-elect’s nominee to serve as Secretary of State delivered some home truths to the assembled public representatives on Wednesday in the Senate.

In his confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, laid out the incoming administration’s foreign policy agenda. Rubio emphasized a sharp pivot toward confronting China, curtailing US involvement in Ukraine, and reprioritizing America’s national interests.

Rubio, a Republican senator from Florida, opened his remarks by framing the challenges the US faces today as a continuation of the post-World War II struggle to create a stable global order. However, he criticized past bipartisan efforts, stating, “The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us.”

Rubio made it clear that the Trump administration sees the war in Ukraine as a conflict that must end soon. He advocated a pragmatic approach, acknowledging the limitations of both sides in achieving their objectives. “Russia has no chance of capturing all of Ukraine, but it is also unrealistic to believe that Ukraine will be able to return the captured territories,” he said. Rubio argued that prolonging the conflict serves no one’s interests, particularly given the extraordinary toll on the smaller country.

“Millions of Ukrainians no longer live in their homeland and may never return. Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is crumbling, and rebuilding will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and decades,” Rubio noted. He added pointedly, “Ukraine’s problem is not that it is running out of money, but that it is running out of Ukrainians.”

Rubio suggested the US will seek compromises to achieve a ceasefire, including the possibility of freezing the current front lines and recognizing Ukraine’s neutrality in NATO. While the new administration remains wary of Russian intentions, Rubio emphasized that winding down the war is essential to avoid escalating risks, including a potential NATO-Russia clash. “This war must end. Everyone should be realistic: Russia, Ukraine, and the US will have to make concessions,” he told lawmakers.

Rubio made it clear that confronting China will be the central focus of US foreign policy under Trump’s second term. He described the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a manipulator of the global system that has “lied, cheated, hacked, and stolen its way to global superpower status at our expense.”

The nominee criticized past US policies that allowed critical supply chains to shift to China, leaving American manufacturing hollowed out. He called for stronger measures to counter Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. “We welcomed the Chinese Communist Party into this global order, and they took advantage of all its benefits while ignoring its obligations,” Rubio said.

While Rubio acknowledged that horrifying atrocities and human suffering exist worldwide, he reiterated that US foreign policy must prioritize America’s safety, strength, and prosperity. “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” he said.

Rubio’s vision reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under Trump, away from expansive global commitments and toward a focus on “core national interests.” This includes reducing military engagements in Eastern Europe and reallocating resources toward countering China’s growing influence. Rubio hinted that this might even involve discussions about withdrawing US troops from Eastern European NATO countries, although he stressed that security guarantees for Ukraine would still be a consideration.