On the 1st (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio (54) as the interim National Security Advisor.
This is an unusual case where both the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor have been held by the same person for the first time in about 52 years since Henry Kissinger in 1973.
On that day, President Trump stated on his social media, "Minister Rubio will continue to provide strong leadership at the State Department, while also fulfilling his role as National Security Advisor."
The Associated Press (AP) noted that "this is the first cabinet reshuffle since the Trump administration's second term commenced," and it evaluated that "this decision reveals Trump's absolute trust in Rubio and has a high potential to bring strong coherence to foreign and security policy."
Holding the positions of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor simultaneously is unprecedented in the U.S. since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s.
In the structure of the U.S. government, the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor perform different roles. The Secretary of State is a government official confirmed by the Senate, primarily responsible for overseeing foreign policy. The National Security Advisor is appointed by the president, mainly coordinating foreign and security policy within the White House.
According to foreign policy experts, the two positions are intentionally separated to maintain checks and balances. The concentration of power in the same individual risks the absence of diverse perspectives and critical reviews in the policy-making process.
Legendary diplomat Kissinger was appointed National Security Advisor with the inauguration of President Nixon in 1969. In September 1973, he also took on the role of Secretary of State. This dual appointment received criticism for creating a situation where "the competitive structure between the State Department and the National Security Council (NSC) disappeared, excluding diverse views."
Ultimately, in 1975, President Gerald Ford transferred the National Security Advisor position held by Kissinger to Brent Scowcroft through a cabinet reshuffle process referred to as the 'Halloween Massacre.'
Former President Ford left a record in a congressional memo stating that "when Kissinger was in charge of both the State Department and the NSC, there was no independent evaluation of the proposals," adding that "I didn't like that structure."
Political media Politico pointed out that the separation of the two positions for checks and balances is customary. It also warned that the simultaneous roles of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor could hinder transparency and diversity in the decision-making process.
The Atlantic also analyzed that "this dual appointment could streamline foreign policy under the Trump administration, but there are significant concerns regarding bureaucratic friction and policy bias."
Marco Rubio comes from a family of Cuban immigrants. He was born in Miami in 1971. In January, he was unanimously confirmed as Secretary of State with the inauguration of the Trump administration's second term, becoming the first Hispanic individual to hold the position.
After Trump’s election, Rubio transformed into a key ally loyal to the administration. He particularly supported 'America First' by sending strong support to Israel and advocating for a hardline stance against China and Iran. This stance earned him confidence from Trump.
Rubio visited Central American countries near the U.S., including Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, as part of his first overseas trip after taking office earlier this year. This was to back the key pledges of the Trump administration, such as deterring illegal immigration and reclaiming the Panama Canal.
The consistent display of a hardline conservative stance since his inauguration has led to strong sanctions against Iran and China, along with unwavering support for Israel.
On his first day in office, Rubio met with the foreign ministers of Quad, a multilateral security forum led by the U.S., discussing measures to counter China's influence, stating that he would "strengthen economic opportunities and peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region."
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) predicted that Rubio is likely to continue the trade war with China and reinforce sanctions against Iran following his dual appointment.
In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last January, he condemned the Chinese Communist Party as a force that "lies, cheats, hacks, and steals to acquire global superpower status at the expense of the U.S."
It was also predicted that if Rubio continues his hardline policies against China, there could be acceleration in reshaping supply chains in the U.S. and regulations on high-tech industries, which could have direct and indirect impacts on domestic corporations in key industries such as semiconductors and batteries.
Rubio previously demanded strong joint pressure on China and increased defense spending from allied countries during Trump’s first term.
Stephen Walt, a researcher at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stated in an interview with Reuters that "Rubio's dual role could simplify the decision-making process of Trump’s foreign policy, while at the same time, his long-held hardline conservative stance may hinder policy flexibility."
스티븐 월트 외교정책연구소 연구원은 로이터와 인터뷰에서 “루비오의 겸임은 트럼프 행정부 외교 정책 결정 과정을 단순화할 수 있지만, 동시에 그가 오래도록 유지한 강경 보수 성향은 정책 유연성을 해칠 수 있다”고 말했다.