The voting took place on Tuesday night according to European time. A total of 99 senators, including Rubio himself, voted in favor of his candidacy. He was nominated for the position by President Donald Trump and became the first confirmed member of the cabinet of the 47th president.
Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants and is one of the leaders of the conservative Republican "Tea Party" movement. He has served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate, and in 2016 he ran for the presidency as a Republican candidate. He is known for his sharp criticism of authoritarian and dictatorial regimes.
During the hearings for his confirmation, Rubio stated that U.S. allies need to contribute more to collective defense. He described the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as vital for Washington but emphasized that it is "important for the United States to have not just allies in defense, but capable allies."
Rubio identified China as the main threat to the prosperity of the United States in the 21st century. Commenting on the war in Ukraine, Rubio mentioned that both Russia and Ukraine will have to make concessions to achieve peace.
"This war needs to end, and I believe that the official policy of the United States should be that we want it to end," Rubio is quoted by Voice of America. "It won't be easy," he said, "and it will require bold diplomacy."