Republican Congressman Michael Waltz, 50, a veteran of the Afghanistan war and a longtime supporter of Donald Trump, will serve as an adviser to the newly elected U.S. president on national security issues. Waltz is known for criticising China's foreign policy and shares the president-elect's stance on immigration. He also signed a report by congressmen that identifies Bidzina Ivanishvili as a "close ally of Putin."
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In 2020, a task force composed of members of the Republican Party in the U.S. The House of Representatives prepared a report titled Strengthening America & Countering Global Threats The document, signed by 13 congressmen, including Joe Wilson and Michael Waltz, suggests that sanctions could be applied to Russian proxies acting on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin in other countries. Russian oligarch Vladimir Yevtushenkov, Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, and pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk were named as such proxies.
"current sanctions have not sufficiently addressed Putin’s foreign cronies who undermine the sovereignty of former-Soviet countries. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the richest man in Georgia, is a close ally of Putin and involved in destabilizing Georgia on Russia’s behalf," the report stated.
Last week, Michael Waltz was re-elected to the House of Representatives from Florida but will have to step down to serve in the White House.
"I am deeply honored President Trump is placing his trust in me to serve in his Cabinet as National Security Advisor. There is no higher calling than defending our nation’s values, freedoms, and the safety of every American," Waltz wrote on Platform X.
According to him, together with President Trump and his team, he will confront the evolving challenges of today's world and stand firmly against those who threaten the American "way of life."
"Our nation deserves nothing less than bold, unwavering leadership, and that’s what he [Trump] will deliver. America will keep its allies close, we will not be afraid to confront our adversaries, and we will invest in the technologies that keep our country strong. America’s greatest strength is its booming economy and our energy dominance, and those tools will keep us out of wars and allow us to once again lead from a position of strength.," Waltz said.
According to the BBC, Michael Waltz has stated that the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine, although in recent weeks he has advocated for a review of U.S. aid spending for the military effort. Waltz also believes NATO allies should increase defense spending.
