Five Problems on Marco Rubio's Desk

As Marco Rubio takes the helm at the State Department, he is facing a growing list of challenges.

Newsweek reached out to the State Department for comment via email.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump's foreign policy stance has been described by some as isolationist, which could cause difficulties for the United States on the world stage.

What To Know

Rubio became the first of Trump's cabinet picks to be confirmed by the Senate on Monday. The former Florida senator received overwhelming support from his former colleagues, with 99 senators backing his nomination.

As he assumes leadership at the State Department, he now confronts five key challenges in navigating a complex geopolitical landscape.

Panama

Trump has threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal, calling the fees charged by Panama "ridiculous" and "highly unfair."

The Panama Canal, a vital trade artery, sees around 14,000 ships transit annually, according to Statista. Opened by the U.S. in 1914, the canal provides a crucial shortcut for cargo vessels traveling between the American continents, significantly reducing transit times and costs.

Trump has also said that China has interfered with the Panama Canal, a claim that Panama President José Raúl Mulino has denied.

"We reject in its entirety everything that Mr. Trump has said. First, because it is false and second because the Panama Canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama," Mulino said this week.

The dispute has opened up a new avenue of tension between the U.S. and Panama over the strategically important waterway.

Rubio is set to visit Panama for his first international trip as the U.S.'s top diplomat. The trip is scheduled for the end of January, though details are still being worked out.

The trip will also include visits to Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told Fox News that "Secretary Rubio is prioritizing the region because it's where we live," adding: "We won't continue to ignore the region as other administrations have."

"Engaging with our neighbors is a vital element in addressing migration, supply chains, and economic growth, which are key to Secretary Rubio's pursuit of foreign policy focused on making America strong, prosperous, and safe," Bruce said.

Middle East

Rubio enters his new role facing a complex situation in the Middle East. The most challenging among them could be the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Rubio has previously spoken out against a ceasefire in Gaza. When asked by activists on Capitol Hill if he would support ending fighting in the territory, he firmly said no.

"On the contrary...I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on," Rubio said last year. "These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes."

He added that Israel's intention is "to destroy the terrorist organization so it may never threaten the people of Israel again."

Amid his steadfast support for Israel, Rubio will now face the challenge of freeing the remaining hostages from Gaza.

Rubio spoke by phone Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reaffirming Washington's "steadfast support for Israel" and pledging to work to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to the State Department.

Ukraine

At the top of Trump's list of foreign policy goals is ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump previously claimed that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war "within 24 hours" of taking office. However, that claim didn't come to fruition after Trump was inaugurated on Monday.

Before the inauguration, Trump reportedly pushed back the timeline to several months, according to the Financial Times.

"The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they're recalibrating the Ukraine approach," a European official told the outlet.

Earlier that week, Trump suggested that "six months" was a more realistic target to end the war. Meanwhile, Keith Kellogg, Trump's appointed special envoy for Ukraine, told Fox News that the aim was to stop the conflict in "100 days."

In November, after Trump's election victory, Rubio said that ending the war would require some "very difficult choices" and that both Russia and Ukraine would have to make "concessions" to bring about an end to the war.

"We do want to see that conflict end, and it's going to require some very difficult choices," he said.

"There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are too brave and fight too hard, and the country is too big. That's not going to happen," Rubio said. But he added, "There's no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion."

Relations With Canada

Since being elected, Trump has muddied relations between the U.S. and Canada, who have historically been close allies.

During a three-hour-long dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in November, Trump reportedly told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should become the 51st state. Neither Trump's transition team nor Trudeau's team has verified the reports.

Trump has also threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian goods as early as February.

Trudeau said his country would respond if Trump pressed ahead with his threat to impose tariffs. Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday morning that Canada provided "many of the necessary inputs that the American economy is going to need" and was taking Trump's proposals "seriously."

"We will also remain steady and strong in advocating for this incredibly successful trading relationship," Trudeau said.

Amid the dispute, Rubio now faces maintaining friendly relations between the U.S. and Canada.

On Tuesday, Rubio spoke with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Rubio and Joly discussed "the Trump Administration's new approaches to key issues around the globe."

"Secretary Rubio and Minister Joly also discussed shared priorities in the Western Hemisphere and opportunities in the U.S.-Canada relationship," Bruce said.

US-China Relations

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising for some time now, and Rubio's appointment has widely been seen as a sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China during his second term. One of the most outspoken China hawks in Washington, Rubio has introduced several bills targeting the Chinese Communist Party.

During his confirmation hearing, he described China as "America's 'biggest threat." However, Rubio also mentioned that a China-U.S. armed conflict would be "catastrophic" and should be avoided.

What Happens Next

Several other Trump nominees are expected to get votes in the Senate in the coming days, including former Representative John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick for CIA director, and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, nominated for Secretary of Defense.