In a key appointment for India, President-elect Donald Trump announced Congressman Mike Waltz from Florida as the new National Security Adviser on Monday. Waltz, who co-chairs the India Caucus in the House, brings extensive military and legislative experience to the role.

Aged 50, Waltz is a retired Army colonel and former Green Beret, a prestigious unit within U.S. Special Forces. Serving in the House of Representatives since 2019, he has been a prominent voice on foreign policy, particularly as a critic of President Joe Biden. Waltz sits on influential committees, including the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence Committees.

Waltz has been outspoken about U.S. foreign policy, advocating for stronger support from European allies toward Ukraine and urging the U.S. to adopt a firmer stance in its aid. He also criticized the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Waltz has commended Trump’s efforts to press NATO allies for higher defense spending, though, unlike Trump, he has not suggested the U.S. leave the alliance. "We can be allies and still engage in tough conversations," he remarked last month.

Additionally, Waltz is a member of the GOP’s China task force, where he has highlighted the need for increased U.S. military readiness in the Indo-Pacific, foreseeing potential conflicts in the region.

Considered a possible contender to lead the Department of Defense, Waltz had openly shown interest in joining the administration. His new role as National Security Adviser does not require Senate confirmation.

The President-elect is rapidly appointing key figures to his administration. Trump has already named Susan Wiles as the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff. Other prominent appointments include Stephen Miller, known for his strong stance against the H-1B visa program, as senior adviser; Tom Homan as “border czar”; Elise Stefanik as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; and Lee Zeldin as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.