Gabbard, a former congresswoman known for pushing conspiracy theories, meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin, was seen as a particularly striking choice.

“This is truly appalling,” says Nathalie Loiseau, France’s former Europe minister under President Emmanuel Macron and now a European MP with the Renew Europe group. Published on X.

“The era of European restraint and hope that the United States will protect us is over,” said Germany’s Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who chairs the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defense.

Marek Magierowski, Poland’s former ambassador to Washington, was referring to Gabbard and her past “pro-Russian” comments. Three days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, in the name The leaders of Russia, Ukraine and the United States were called on to “embrace the spirit of aloha” and agree on Ukraine becoming a neutral country.

“It’s certainly a very troubling signal that he’s become the head of the entire US intelligence community,” he said. He said it on Polish television.

early hopes

When Rubio’s name first surfaced as Trump’s pick for secretary of state earlier in the week, the initial reaction was cautious optimism; Diplomats, experts and officials in Europe, the United Kingdom and Israel described him as an experienced foreign policy hand who supported NATO. He was tough on Iran and wanted to defend Taiwan against any Chinese invasion.