His master's choice: loyal Rubio's superpower is to get Trump's stuff done

There is a reason why for the first time since Kissinger the US secretary of state is also national security adviser, says Ivo Daalder

- Ivo Daalder

Marco Rubio had a very busy first week as secretary of state and national security adviser. A White House visit by the new Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney. Tiffs with the new German government over the determination that the opposition party was extremist. A trade deal with Britain. An escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers. A ceasefire with the Houthis. And the first real talks with China on the trade war.

Secretary of state Rubio spent the week dealing with foreign governments on these issues. He castigated the Germans for curtailing free speech. He called on his counterparts in New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate the war. And he took a call from his Israeli counterpart wondering why they were not informed about the Houthi ceasefire and why there was no Houthi commitment to stop firing on Israel.

National security adviser Rubio spent the week briefing the president on the next round of talks with Iran about its nuclear programme, the Houthi missile that hit Tel Aviv, Israel's latest escalation in Gaza and progress on trade negotiations. He also had to prepare the president for the Carney visit, phone calls with foreign counterparts and Donald Trump's first overseas visit to the Gulf this week.

These key national security positions are among the most demanding jobs in the world. Doing either requires superhuman effort; doing both is practically impossible - except, perhaps, when Trump is president.