Marco Rubio sworn in as US Secretary of State, pledges peace through strength

Marco Rubio officially began his tenure as the U.S. Secretary of State on January 21, pledging to position the State Department at the forefront of American foreign policymaking.

Addressing a crowd of cheering State Department staff, Rubio promised to execute President Donald Trump's vision of "promoting peace through strength" while reaffirming his commitment to diplomatic excellence, Caliber.Az reports via Western media.

"We want to be at the centerpiece, we want to be at the core of how we formulate foreign policy," Rubio stated, emphasizing the department’s capability to deliver ideas and actions more effectively than any other government agency. He described the diplomatic corps as "the most effective, the most talented, the most experienced" in history, drawing applause from the gathered employees.

Rubio, 53, takes office at a pivotal time in U.S. foreign policy. A long-time member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, the son of Cuban immigrants, and the first Latino Secretary of State, Rubio brings a staunchly conservative, results-driven approach to the role. He has been a vocal advocate for tough stances on adversaries such as China, Cuba, and Venezuela, and has pledged to prioritize resolving Russia's war in Ukraine as an official U.S. policy.

During an interview with NBC's "Today" show ahead of his swearing-in, Rubio stressed the importance of ending the war in Ukraine through diplomacy. "It’s going to be the official policy of the United States that the war has to end, and we’re going to do everything possible to bring that about," he said, suggesting that both Moscow and Kyiv would need to make concessions.

While former President Joe Biden maintained that it was Ukraine's decision whether to negotiate, Trump has claimed he would end the war swiftly, without providing specifics. Rubio acknowledged the complexity of achieving peace but underscored the necessity of "hard, vibrant diplomacy" to ensure security for Ukraine and its regional partners while halting the destruction caused by the war.

Rubio’s appointment also signals a shift in the State Department’s structure. Trump’s administration has replaced senior career diplomats with officials deemed more aligned with its agenda. Rubio downplayed concerns, stating, "The changes are not meant to be destructive... We need to be a 21st-century agency that can move at the speed of relevance."

As a self-proclaimed "China hawk" and staunch supporter of Israel, Rubio is expected to align closely with Trump's foreign policy priorities, including strengthening U.S. alliances and advancing national interests. Speaking at the White House after his swearing-in, Rubio reiterated his dedication to "peace through strength" while upholding American values.

By Khagan Isayev