Rubio gets competition as America's most important diplomat
Rubio gets competition as America's most important diplomat
Marco Rubio started as Secretary of State under Donald Trump, "with open eyes", like a person who is familiar with his thoughts. He was aware that it would be a challenge to work for Trump, especially in view of Trump's tendency to relieve high -ranking civil servants by tweet. He also knew how it was to be called "Little Marco". Nevertheless, Rubio applied for the prestigious post of the top diplomat in the United States after being inferior to JD Vance in the race for the Vice Presidency.
The challenge of visibility
What Rubio had not expected was that, as Foreign Minister, he could possibly be overshadowed by the real estate developer and billionaire Steve Witkoff, one of Trump's closest friends. In the first two months of the second Trump administration, Rubio played a minor role on the world stage in some aspects, while Witkoff, whose portfolio has grown beyond his official designation as a special envoy for the Middle East, has taken on a leading role in some of the most remarkable foreign policy successes.
Witkoff's influence on foreign policy
Witkoff was a key player in numerous top -class foreign policy successes - including the release of hostages in Israel, a broken ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the American Marc Fogel from Russia after Witkoff had traveled to Moscow to conclude the negotiations for his release. He has had a lot of travel effort in the region in the Middle East and has become an important mediator in the negotiations to terminate the Ukraine War.
Rubios efforts and questions about influence
In the meantime, Rubio has actively worked into his role by doing travel to Central America to discuss migration, made travel to the Middle East, Europe and Canada to deal with the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and meet with the G7 partners. Occasionally, however, he did not seem to agree with some of the steps of the administration: he is said to have argued in a meeting of the Trump cabinet with Elon Musk and was depicted in an attitude in an attitude that was described by a friend as "Couch-Lhargie", while Trump and Vance criticized the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj.role and challenges in the Foreign Ministry
Public perception has raised questions about Rubios influence on Trump. Although Rubio was unanimously confirmed as the first member of the cabinet, his role was lacking in the typical visibility and the portfolio that former foreign ministers enjoyed. There is also a group of Maga supporters who are skeptical about its striking foreign policy views. A senator who is in contact with Rubio said that Rubio was frustrated.
Witkoff and the dynamics in the white house
Despite these challenges, only Rubio has all the privileges of the secretary. While Witkoff often flies with his own private gulfstream jet, Rubio is welcomed with pomp in other countries and travels in the government jet C-32, which is labeled with "United States of America". In a statement to CNN, Witkoff said that he had a "wonderful working relationship" with Rubio and praised him as a great Secretary of State who would go into the history books.
The future design Rubios
The public dependence on Witkoff has triggered speculation about Rubio's future in this office in Washington. A long-time friend of Rubio noticed that he had accepted the position in the back of the head with the rotating door of the first Trump administration, in which the Foreign Minister Rex Tillerson in particular remained for 13 months. Another colleague said Rubio took over the position to polish up his references and to continue to pursue his presidential ambitions, which failed in 2016,.
rubios diplomatic efforts
Nevertheless, Rubio has already played a key role in several diplomatic efforts. He led a US delegation to Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine accepted a 30-day ceasefire to reduce tensions after the incident in the Oval Office. Veteran diplomats in Washington have observed Rubios for the first two months in office and it was a challenge to watch the traditional diplomatic tasks of the Foreign Minister partially to Witkoff, while Witkoff met Putin in Moscow
Rubios influence and diplomacy
The challenges in front of which Rubio faces can also be seen in the reaction to Trump's abolition of foreign help. He is now responsible for a USAID, the purpose of which he has long supported as a senator. Rubio has spent many hours to process WAVER inquiries for important programs, but he was recently the one who only sent the memo for freezing foreign aid with exceptions for vital programs.