Who is Mike Waltz, Donald Trump's national security advisor, and why is it good news for India but bad for China?
Donald Trump has chosen Florida Representative Mike Waltz as his national security advisor. Waltz, a retired Army Green Beret known for his extensive knowledge in military operations and policy, is a vocal critic of China and a staunch advocate for bolstering US strategic readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
Impact on China
Waltz's selection highlights the incoming administration’s focus on addressing the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party. He has previously called for a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to concerns over Covid-19's origins and China's treatment of Uighurs.
Waltz and former Pentagon strategist Matthew Kroenig, in a joint Economist article penned before the elections, emphasized the need for America to shift attention from Europe and the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific. “The next president should act urgently to bring the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to a swift conclusion and finally focus strategic attention where it should be: countering the greater threat from the Communist Party,” they stated.
A consistent proponent of strengthening the US military to deter potential Chinese aggression, particularly towards Taiwan, Waltz highlights in his writings, «America is not building armed forces to deny a Chinese attack on Taiwan.» He emphasizes an increase in defense spending and revitalization of the defense-industrial base as crucial steps for military preparedness.
Waltz takes on his new role amidst already tense US-China relations, fueled by trade disputes,
