In 2015, Marco Rubio launched his presidential campaign, positioning himself as a strong critic of Russia and condemning prior attempts by US officials to improve relations with Moscow.
Fast forward a decade, Rubio, now serving as America’s leading diplomat, engaged in talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia this week, aiming to mend the tattered ties between Washington and Moscow.
Once a foreign policy hawk who labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin a “thug,” Rubio is now navigating significant changes in the US international stance under President Donald Trump.
Rubio is regarded as a traditional politician with conservative values, yet he operates within an administration featuring a tech billionaire as its public representative, lacking previous political experience and seeking to drastically reshape federal institutions.
The newly appointed secretary of state now advocates for Trump’s unconventional global agenda, which includes engaging with Russia, controlling the Panama Canal, claiming Greenland, and “owning” Gaza.
As Rubio leads Trump’s foreign policy initiatives, who exactly is the top US diplomat and what motivates him?
Global stage, ambition
Experts suggest Rubio is driven by a belief in the need for US leadership on the global stage, alongside personal ambitions that led him to pursue the presidency in 2016 and advance within the Republican Party.
“He holds a conventional, hawkish perspective on America’s role internationally, yet we have also witnessed how he has altered long-standing beliefs since assuming the secretary of state position,” noted Michael Hanna, director of the US program at the International Crisis Group.
One clear example of Rubio’s shifts is his endorsement of cuts to international aid programs and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Historically, Rubio has advocated for aid initiatives, viewing them as critical to American soft power globally.
However, much like many other Republicans in prominent roles within the Trump administration, he has aligned himself with the “America First” approach of the president.
Hanna speculated that Rubio, 53, might have his sights set on the White House after Trump’s presidency concludes.
“It’s ambition. Being a well-known senator is different than being secretary of state in terms of public profile, especially on a global scale,” he shared with Al Jazeera.
‘The trauma of exile’
Born to Cuban immigrants, Rubio’s beginnings were modest. His father worked as a bartender, while his mother was a cashier and hotel cleaner.
Though his parents emigrated to the US prior to Fidel Castro’s revolution in the 1950s, Rubio was raised in Miami’s Cuban community, surrounded by exiles who escaped the communist regime.
This strong anti-Castro demographic has gradually shifted towards the right politically, contributing to Florida becoming a Republican bastion.
In his 2012 memoir, An American Son, Rubio reflects on how the challenges faced by Cuban immigrants influenced his early political perspectives and patriotic feelings.
“I understood how the trauma of exile – disbelief, guilt, a sense of loss – shaped their lives and mine,” he wrote.
“Their love for the country that embraced them, along with the pain that brought them here, instilled a vigilance toward threats to America … This was the culture that molded my youth.”
Author Manuel Roig-Franzia, in his 2012 book, The Rise of Marco Rubio, asserts that Rubio’s family background and upbringing in Miami’s Cuban community significantly impacted his “political identity.”
Throughout his career, Rubio has promoted adversarial policies, particularly strong sanctions against leftist Latin American leaders whom he perceives as autocrats or adversaries of the US.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, Rubio was a staunch opponent of the detente with Cuba.
He has also supported harsher measures against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s administration.
In 2019, Rubio appeared to issue a direct “regime change” warning to Maduro.
In light of rising tensions between the US and Venezuela, Rubio shared images of slain and imprisoned dictators on social media following remarks targeting the Maduro regime.
One image included a graphic depiction of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s execution by rebels in 2011.
As a newly elected senator in 2011, Rubio had been a proponent of stronger US intervention in Libya amid the uprising, when US and NATO forces were carrying out airstrikes against Gaddafi’s government.
Pax Americana
Stephen Zunes, a professor of international studies at the University of San Francisco, notes that Rubio’s hawkish worldview of “might makes right” resonates with many Republicans shaped by the 1980s Reagan era and the ensuing collapse of the Soviet Union.
“He seems inclined to advocate for a Pax Americana,” Zunes suggests, referring to the idea of global peace achieved through American dominance.
Rubio himself hinted at this notion in 2015 when he articulated his vision for US foreign policy in Foreign Affairs. “The foremost pillar of my foreign policy will be a revitalization of American strength. The world is safest when America is strongest,” he asserted.
As a presidential candidate then, Rubio identified three foundational pillars for his foreign policy: Military strength, safeguarding free trade, and “moral clarity” in “defending freedom.”
This rhetoric evokes the era of George W. Bush in the early 2000s, coinciding with Rubio’s initial forays into politics.
The Florida politician has consistently expressed admiration for Bush, recalling in his memoir that the first congratulatory call he received upon being elected to the Senate in 2010 was from the former president.
In 2015, Rubio defended the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, at a time when the prevailing sentiment in Washington was that it was a mistake.
“The world is a better place because of the absence of Saddam Hussein,” he stated during a Fox News interview.
The other Bush
Rubio became a public servant at the age of 27 when he was elected as a West Miami commissioner in 1998.
In under 13 years, he transitioned from local politics to the US Senate, having served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives and leading the chamber from 2006 to 2008.
During this rapid ascent, he had a powerful patron in Jeb Bush, Florida’s then-Governor.
Jeb Bush, brother to former President George W. Bush and son to George H.W. Bush, recognized Rubio’s political potential early on.
When Rubio became State House speaker, Jeb honored him with a golden sword, which he brandished proudly before his fellow legislators. Jeb viewed Rubio as a “conservative warrior.”
While the nature of their relationship is debated, they have publicly expressed mutual respect over the years, with Bush providing support for Rubio’s initial campaign for local office.
It was more than just Jeb Bush; others in Florida’s political landscape recognized Rubio’s potential as well.
Congressman Carlos Jimenez remarked to NPR last month that the moment he first heard Rubio speak, he recognized that he “has it” – indicating a certain charisma.
“Marco Rubio exemplifies the American dream. He embodies the Republican Party,” Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart added.
2016 presidential run
Rubio emerged on the national scene as a young, articulate, and combative politician with a compelling personal narrative representing a growing demographic in the Republican Party, making him a perfect candidate for a rising star.
His entrance to the Senate was so noteworthy that less than two years post-election, Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign considered him for the vice presidential spot in 2012.
By 2016, Rubio entered a crowded Republican primary for the presidency.
His dynamic with rivals, particularly with ally Bush and future adversary Trump, became significant.
Setting aside previous political affiliations, Rubio sought to capture the establishment lane in the primary, historically connected to Bush.
As they clashed on the debate stage and campaign trail, Rubio’s criticisms were sharper, demonstrating his readiness to sacrifice old relationships for advancement.
“I am thankful each day that George W. Bush was president, but Jeb has no foreign policy experience,” Rubio remarked in February 2016.
As Bush’s campaign struggled, Rubio may have contributed to its decline.
Simultaneously, he did not shy away from challenging Trump when others refrained from confronting the controversial businessman.
Rubio accused the then-candidate of lacking foreign policy knowledge, labeling him a “con artist” and commenting on his “small hands.”
Trump, having Rubio as a chief rival in the primaries, continuously mocked him as “Little Marco” while hurling various belittling remarks about him.
Despite their heated rivalry, Rubio endorsed Trump when he secured the nomination and supported him early in the 2024 campaign, despite Trump’s ongoing legal challenges.
By supporting Trump, Rubio seemed to accept the president’s influence within the party and chose to work within its framework.
His readiness to challenge former allies while collaborating with adversaries illustrates Rubio’s pragmatic approach.
When asked this week whether he believes Moscow aims for peace following discussions with Russian diplomats, Rubio implied a more complex geopolitical landscape.
“I do not perceive diplomacy in those terms. Ultimately, diplomacy is founded on actions and commitments upheld,” he posited.
Pro-Israel advocacy
While Rubio hinted that the future of US policy towards Russia and its actions in Ukraine is intricate, he previously presented a stark perspective on Middle Eastern conflicts.
During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio lauded Israel as a “free enterprise democracy.”
“If there were more countries like Israel in the Middle East, the world would be a safer and better place,” he asserted.
Conversely, he labeled Iran as the “single greatest source of instability in the region.”
Additionally, he described Trump’s controversial plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza as “bold.”
Zunes, the professor, indicated that Rubio holds “extreme” views on Israel-Palestine and other global issues, yet remains perceived as a reasonable choice within the Trump cabinet. His confirmation in January passed with a unanimous 99-0 Senate vote.
“Had any other president been in office, [Rubio’s views] would likely be considered quite extreme. In comparison to his colleagues in this administration, he comes across as fairly moderate,” Zunes added.
Rubio has a longstanding tradition of pro-Israel advocacy, having introduced legislation penalizing companies that boycott Israel over its treatment of Palestinians, and condemned Latin American leaders critical of the US ally as “pro-Hamas.”
Championing Israel has become a near-uncontroversial principle within the contemporary Republican Party.
Conservatives historically view Israel as an extension of American power in the Middle East, especially during the Cold War, as the Soviet Union supported Arab states in the conflict.
The rise of evangelical support for Israel, driven by theological motivations, has solidified right-wing allegiance to the nation over recent decades.
Changing views
Although Rubio aligns with Trump on Israel-Palestine issues, his prior advocacy for internationalism, foreign aid, and a proactive US global role may not align with Trump’s perceived agenda of nationalistic withdrawal and unilateral selfish interests.
Nevertheless, the secretary of state appears to be reassessing his views.
Rubio had been a strong supporter of aid to Ukraine, but last year, as skepticism regarding US involvement in the war grew within right-wing circles, he stated that “the United States is financing a stalemate in Ukraine.”
Recently, he remarked on an impending “multipolar world,” seemingly contradicting his earlier calls for the US to maintain its supremacy globally.
It remains uncertain whether Rubio is undergoing an ideological shift or merely adapting to fulfill his role.
As secretary of state, Rubio is tasked with implementing Trump’s directives, rather than creating policy independently.
Zunes commented that Rubio entered the role aware he needed to support positions contrary to his beliefs.
“He probably sensed that he could exert some influence in this position, perhaps guiding the policy in a direction he would prefer,” he explained.
