The Transformation of the US Secretary of State: From "Little Marco" to Trump's Advisor - Rubio's Shift in Position Under Scrutiny

AFP, Washington, 6th. US Secretary of State Rubio has long been known for his anti-G and pro-democracy image. With the US military arresting Venezuelan President Maduro, he achieved a major political victory, but due to his cooperation with Trump and compromising with realpolitik, it has sparked doubts about whether he has deviated from his past ideals.

Rubio (Marco Rubio) comes from the Cuban exile community in Miami. Seeing the fall of the Havana regime was his lifelong dream. Since entering politics, he has always been committed to opposing leftist forces in Latin America.

With the US military launching a surprise operation to capture the strongman president of Venezuela, Maduro (Nicolas Maduro), Rubio finally tasted the flavor of victory. However, this outcome was achieved through multiple compromises, leading many to question, "Where is the old Rubio?"

Abandoning Past Ideals?

For years, Rubio has consistently referred to Maduro as an illegal leader. In 2023, as a senator, he had previously called for stricter sanctions against the Maduro regime, which lacked electoral freedom, and advocated for "prioritizing the transition to democratic governance." Yet he now claims that it is too early to talk about elections.

US President Trump said on the 3rd that after the US military arrested Maduro, he would allow American oil companies to enter Venezuela to exploit its abundant crude oil resources, and ruled out cooperating with democratic leaders and Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado (Maria Corina Machado), instead seeking collaboration with Maduro's deputy Rodriguez (Delcy Rodriguez). Rubio chose to comply with Trump.

Bruen (Brett Bruen), who served as a diplomat in the Obama (Barack Obama) administration, said: "I think this is not the real Rubio, but the Rubio of realpolitik. He saw an opportunity and was willing to give up part of his stance on the role of the United States in maintaining global stability in the pursuit of toppling Maduro, and possibly even dismantling the current Cuban regime."

From "Little Marco" to "Trump's Advisor"

Rubio and Trump had fiercely competed in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. At that time, Trump contemptuously called him "Little Marco," while Rubio sarcastically mocked Trump's small hands.

This rift now seems to have been eliminated. Rubio has become the first official to simultaneously serve as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor since the "diplomatic patriarch," former Secretary of State Kissinger (Henry Kissinger), meaning he spends most of his time in the White House working with Trump, rather than frequently traveling like previous Secretaries of State.

Last February, Trump and Vice President Vance (JD Vance) harshly criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (Volodymyr Zelenskyy) in the White House, believing he did not show enough gratitude for the strong support from the United States. A photo of Rubio sitting stiffly on the sofa became a popular internet meme.

An unnamed U.S. ally diplomat said: "We originally thought Rubio was a relatively 'normal' figure in the Trump administration who could communicate with. But clearly, his main concern is still Trump."

Rubio responded to criticism during a year-end press conference, saying: "If the Secretary of State disagrees with the president, that would be extremely foolish."

Targeting the Fall of the Cuban Regime

Hours after Maduro's downfall, Rubio said: "If I lived in Havana and held a government position, I would feel worried, at least a little worried."

At 54, Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants. Restoring right-wing rule in Central America is his lifelong dream.

A former aide told the Daily Telegraph: "This is embedded in his DNA. He has been striving to achieve this goal all his life. His parents never saw the regime change in Cuba before they passed away, and he believes so strongly in the United States because his family had their rights taken away."

In his 2012 autobiography, Rubio wrote: "I cannot stand people describing immigrants like locusts, rather than human beings."

He said his family "felt deep pain over losing their country." "As long as Castro was in power, they could not return to Cuba, which made them feel deep down that they were exiles. I am the same."

U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President

Original: toutiao.com/article/1853648361106696/

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