On Wednesday, November 20, President-elect Trump (Donald Trump) announced the nomination of Matthew Whitaker as the US Ambassador to NATO. Whitaker briefly served as acting Attorney General during Trump’s first term.
In a statement, Trump said Whitaker is a “strong warrior and loyal patriot who will ensure America’s interests are advanced and defended.”
Whitaker served as acting Attorney General for a few months in 2018 and 2019. Prior to that, he was Chief of Staff to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and also served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Iowa.
“Matthew will strengthen our relationship with our NATO allies and stand firm in the face of threats to peace and stability. He will adhere to the ‘America First’ policy,” Trump said when announcing the nomination on Wednesday. “I have full confidence that Matthew is capable of representing the United States with strength, integrity, and unwavering dedication.”
“I look forward to working closely with him to continue promoting peace, freedom, and prosperity around the world,” he added.
Whitaker has been actively involved in the work of the “America First Policy Institute.” The institute has worked closely with Trump’s campaign team to shape the policy for Trump’s second term.
The confirmation of the US Ambassador to NATO comes at a time of escalating tension in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. On Wednesday, the US, Greece, Spain, and Italy closed their embassies in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, citing security concerns. The US embassy stated that it had received credible information that a major Russian airstrike on Kyiv could occur on Wednesday.
During his campaign, Trump emphasized that he would mediate to end the war but did not disclose how he would achieve that.
Trump has provided little detail on his foreign policy for a second term, but supporters argue that his assertive approach and “peace through strength” strategy will help foreign leaders yield to his will and quell the “world fires” in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Supporters believe that Trump’s unpredictability is a feature of his foreign policy, not a flaw. It is this unpredictability that can deter enemies and make progress on the world’s most challenging issues.