Trump appoints 'hawk' Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor
President-elect Donald Trump from the USA has chosen Congressman Mike Waltz from Florida as his national security advisor, as reported by "The Wall Street Journal" on Monday. Waltz, a former special forces member, is known for his firm stance towards China.
Information about Waltz's nomination, citing confidential sources, was also provided by CNN and Reuters.
The 50-year-old Waltz is a retired colonel from the Green Berets – a special forces unit of the U.S. Army – who has been serving as a congressman from Florida since 2018. During the election campaign, he was one of Trump's main defenders on national security issues, particularly in television media. He takes on one of the key roles in the administration, becoming the chief advisor, alongside the Secretary of State, responsible for foreign policy.
Waltz admires Trump
Waltz was perceived as a "hawk" in policy towards Russia, China, and Iran. However, over the past year, he voted against a package of aid measures for Ukraine (despite supporting earlier packages). In a recent interview on NPR radio, the politician claimed that Trump's expressed desire for a quick end to the war in Ukraine is rational and argued that Trump would force Putin to negotiate by imposing sanctions on Russian oil and lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons.
The politician described Russia as essentially an energy supplier with nuclear capabilities, noting that Putin is currently exporting more oil and gas than before the war. He suggested that Russia's economy and military efforts could be swiftly weakened by boosting domestic energy production and lifting the LNG ban. Additionally, he announced plans to impose sanctions on Chinese companies importing Russian oil.
The congressman admires Trump's approach to NATO and the requirement for Europe to increase its defence spending.
Waltz wrote ahead of the NATO summit in Washington that the U.S. needs to firmly communicate that it is time for allies to contribute to their security. He noted that military alliances are built on trust and mutual support, and highlighting the insufficient investment by allies is not confrontational but rather a way to advocate for American taxpayers who have shouldered the financial burden for an extended period.
Waltz is the second Republican congressman appointed to a role in the Trump administration, which may temporarily weaken the expected Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
