Marco Rubio vows to focus US foreign policy on 'advancement of our national interest'

New Secretary of State commits to following President Donald Trump’s 'very clear' America First mission when it comes to foreign relations

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, is sworn in on January 21. Bloomberg

Marco Rubio, the former senior senator from Florida, officially began his tenure as the 72nd Secretary of State on Tuesday and vowed to carry out President Donald Trump’s America First foreign policy agenda.

Mr Rubio, flanked by his wife and four children, addressed staff at the State Department’s sprawling headquarters in Washington, saying that his and the department's job "in some ways will be different", in that there is now a "very clear mission" when it comes to foreign policy: "to ensure that our foreign policy is centred on one thing, and that is the advancement of our national interest".

He said the State Department’s focus will be on making the US stronger, safer and more prosperous.

Mr Trump said on Monday during his inauguration that he wants to "stop all wars" and to be a "peacemaker", and Mr Rubio said that the State Department will be critical to achieving those goals.

"That's what we endeavour to do – to promote peace around the world – because that's in our national interest," he said. "Without peace, it is hard to be a strong nation, a prosperous nation, and one that is better off."

Marco Rubio says 'historic opportunities' exist for US in the Middle East

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Mr Rubio was confirmed unanimously by Congress on Monday and was sworn in early on Tuesday. He received bipartisan praise over the course of his brief confirmation process, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying he "was thorough and quick with his background checks and documentation. He did it the right way"

"We can all rest easier knowing that with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Sun has set on the America Last status quo and a new day of strong American leadership has dawned," Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said.

Mr Rubio inherits a department that has struggled internally over the previous administration's policies towards the Israel-Gaza war. Several State Department officials resigned over the concern that the department was allowing Israel to carry out a deadly campaign in Gaza with impunity.

Mr Trump has said that he is the most pro-Israel president in history. In his previous role as senator, Mr Rubio criticised his predecessor Antony Blinken for issuing sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, which he referred to as Judea and Samaria, the biblical name for the region.

Mr Rubio was expected to meet the foreign ministers of India, Australia and Japan later on Tuesday.