Antony Blinken to be Replaced by Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State

In a significant development in U.S. foreign policy, Senator Marco Rubio is set to replace Antony Blinken as the Secretary of State. This announcement was made on Monday night by the Republican Jewish Coalition, which expressed excitement and support for Rubio’s nomination.

Antony Blinken, who has been a key figure in the Biden administration’s foreign policy, has been criticized by some for his handling of the Israel–Gaza conflict. Blinken had issued public criticism of Israel’s tactics in Gaza, highlighting concerns about the loss of life among innocent civilians and suggesting that Israel’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons may have breached international humanitarian law.

Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, was scheduled to meet with Blinken on Monday in Washington, a meeting that now takes on a different context given the impending change in leadership at the State Department.

Marco Rubio, known for his strong support of Israel, has been vocal about the need for Israel to eradicate Hamas in Gaza. He has argued that Israeli air attacks on Gaza were necessary given the severity of Hamas’s actions, including targeted attacks on civilians.

The transition from Blinken to Rubio is expected to bring significant policy changes, particularly in how the U.S. approaches its relationship with Israel and the broader Middle East. Rubio’s stance is seen as a stark contrast to Blinken’s, with Rubio expected to be more supportive of Israel’s military actions and less critical of its handling of the Gaza conflict).