In a significant development for India, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Mike Waltz, a Congressman from Florida and co-chair of the India Caucus, as his new National Security Adviser. Waltz, a retired Army colonel and former Green Beret, has been a member of the US House of Representatives since 2019. He has been a vocal critic of President Joe Biden's foreign policy and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Intelligence Committee.

Waltz has been a staunch advocate for Europe to increase its support for Ukraine and for the US to be more stringent with its support, aligning with a key foreign policy goal of the President-elect. He has also criticized the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite praising Trump for pushing NATO allies to spend more on defense, Waltz has not suggested that the US should withdraw from the alliance.

As a member of the Republican's China taskforce, Waltz has argued that the US military is not as prepared as it needs to be if there is a conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. He has expressed his willingness to serve in the administration and was considered a candidate to lead the Pentagon.

Trump's Swift Personnel Decisions

The role of National Security Adviser does not require Senate confirmation, making it a smooth transition for Waltz into the role. Waltz is also a co-chair of the India Caucus in the House, which is the largest country-specific group in the US Congress. As Trump's NSA, Waltz will be dealing with Ajit Doval, the Indian NSA who has dealt with a rotating roster of NSA starting with his first Michael Flynn in 2017 and then H R McMaster, John Bolton, and then Robert Brien; all in the Trump administration.

Trump has been moving swiftly to announce key personnel of his incoming administration, including Susan Wiles, his White House Chief of Staff who will be the first woman to hold the position. Trump's other appointments include Stephen Miller, as a senior adviser, who is a known critic of the H-1b visa programme which he tried to kill in Trump's first administration.

The President-elect has been quickly assembling a roster of senior staff since winning last week's election. He has already announced Tom Homan as his border czar, Elise Stefanik as US ambassador to the United Nations, and Lee Zeldin as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Waltz's Background and Future Role

Waltz was born in Boynton Beach, Florida, and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and went on to serve for 27 years in the US Army and National Guard. His appointment as NSA is seen as a significant development for India, given his role as co-chair of the India Caucus in the House.

In the past, Waltz has been open about his willingness to serve in the administration and was considered a candidate to lead the Pentagon. His appointment as NSA does not require Senate confirmation, making it a smooth transition for him into the role.

Waltz's appointment comes at a time when the world is more volatile and dangerous than it was when Trump took office in 2017, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East and China aligning itself more closely with U.S. foes Russia and Iran. His experience and stance on foreign policy will be crucial in navigating these challenges.