US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Republican Representative Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor. The appointment of the leader, a former Army Green Beret and Trump confidant, has brought in a staunch critic of China's actions in the Asia-Pacific region. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday (November 11).
Waltz also served as a colonel in the National Guard. He has repeatedly spoken of the need for the United States to prepare for potential conflicts in the region. The role of National Security Advisor is extremely powerful, not requiring Senate approval.
While condemning the Biden administration for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan in 2021, Waltz praised Trump's foreign policy.
Waltz has a long history in Washington's political arena. He served as director of defense policy for Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates and was elected to Congress in 2018. He also chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Logistics Oversight and the Select Committee on Privacy.
Waltz is also on the Republicans' China Task Force. However, his views on the Ukraine issue have changed. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he urged the Biden administration to provide more weapons to Kiev. But at an event last month, he highlighted the need to reassess US goals in Ukraine.
Waltz praised Trump's efforts to encourage NATO allies to spend more on defense, though, like Trump, did not recommend the US pull out of the alliance.
As a member of Congress from Florida, he has been at the forefront of a conservative movement against teaching certain theories about racism and has criticized military officials. Earlier, Waltz was also considered for the post of Defense Minister.
A tougher stance on military leaders is expected in Trump's second term. Because he has faced opposition from the Pentagon on everything from his skepticism about NATO to his readiness to deploy troops to quell US street protests. Trump has criticized the Biden administration for politicizing the military.
