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President-elect Donald Trump is expected to announce key appointments in his second administration, including foreign policy hardliner and India advocate Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and pro-India Congressman Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor. According to multiple media outlets, Rubio and Waltz will prioritize strengthening US-India relations and countering Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

Rubio, a senator from Florida and the son of Cuban immigrants, has a strong track record on India-related policies. Known for his hawkish stance on China, Rubio views India as a key counterweight to Beijing's influence. Recently, he introduced the US-India Defense Cooperation Act, proposing an elevated defense partnership with India, akin to US relationships with allies like Japan and Israel. This bill would also grant India limited exemptions from CAATSA sanctions, which restrict countries from engaging in defense trade with Russia—a measure significant for India due to its reliance on Russian defense equipment.

Rubio’s support for closer US-India ties aligns with Waltz’s vision. Waltz, a Florida Republican and co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, has been vocal about India's role in regional security. He views India as an essential partner for the United States to counterbalance China and maintain stability in South Asia. Waltz led a bipartisan delegation to India last year and has introduced legislation aimed at expediting US arms sales to India, underscoring his commitment to bolstering India’s defense capabilities.

Both Rubio and Waltz share a critical view of China’s assertiveness. While Rubio has called for a strong US-India partnership in the face of Chinese hostility along the Himalayas and in the Indian Ocean, Waltz has highlighted India’s strategic importance in monitoring Afghanistan and deterring China’s regional ambitions. He noted that India’s status as a nuclear power and its advanced military capabilities make it a formidable ally against common threats in the Indo-Pacific.

Rubio and Waltz, who both hold significant positions on intelligence and defense committees, have supported initiatives to enhance US-India defense interoperability, including agreements signed during Trump's first term, such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA). These agreements have laid the groundwork for closer military collaboration between the two nations.

While both officials are firm on expanding US-India ties, Waltz has expressed reservations regarding India's ongoing economic engagement with Russia, especially its import of Russian oil. Despite this, Waltz remains optimistic about strengthening the US-India relationship, advocating for a “strategic alliance” similar to NATO.

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As Trump prepares to take office, the selection of Rubio and Waltz signals a continuation of policies that place India at the heart of US strategic interests, with a focus on addressing the challenges posed by an increasingly assertive China.