The U.S. Secretary of State has a wide-ranging responsibilities that can make or break peace deals and important foreign alliances

Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, will testify before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 15, 2025, as part of his confirmation process .

Rubio's nomination is notable for several reasons, including that Rubio has been a harsh critic of Trump.

But the relationship between Trump and Rubio has improved in recent years, to the point where Rubio is a finalist as Trump's 2024 running mate. Rubio will also be the first Latino to hold this important position.

The Secretary of State is one of the most important cabinet positions in the U.S. government and is the fourth in line to the presidency.

In my work as an international affairs scholar, I see how the Secretary of State has a lasting impact on U.S. foreign policy and how the rest of the world views the United States

The secretary of state who left his mark

Thomas Jefferson served as the United States' first Secretary of State from 1790 to 1793, laying the foundation for American diplomacy. He helped establish the United States as a sovereign nation and advocated neutrality during conflicts in Europe. This allowed the nascent nation to develop its interests without foreign entanglement.

Jefferson also advocated diplomacy rather than war and believed that conflicts should be resolved through negotiation. In a 1799 letter, Jefferson wrote: “I favor free trade with all nations, no political ties with any, and few or no diplomatic establishments: I disfavor any disputes with Europe by new treaties. Get up and get into the field. Slaughter to keep the balance. “

Centuries later, World War II promoted another secretary of state, George C. Marshall, who served from January 1947 to January 1949.

The strategy Marshall devised—appropriately known as the Marshall Plan—rebuilt and stabilized Europe after World War II, curbed the spread of communism and solidified the alliance between the Western bloc of nations. For his work, Marshall received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.

The secretary of state who takes office in 2025 will face serious challenges, including multiple wars around the world and the potential threat of a nuclear confrontation with Iran or other countries.

This difficult job requires a lot of wisdom, knowledge and courage.

The role of the Secretary of State

Most importantly, the Secretary of State is the nation's top diplomat. The Secretary of State oversees and implements all foreign policy of the President through the State Department, which includes multiple agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Secretary of State is also the President's top foreign policy adviser. The Secretary of State provides updates and advice to the President on how to handle foreign policy decisions.

The Secretary of State also speaks regularly with various heads of state, ambassadors and foreign ministers to address global challenges and crises and negotiate international treaties or ceasefires.

a day in the life

On a day-to-day basis, the Secretary of State oversees a vast bureaucracy of more than 69,000 employees, including ambassadors, foreign service officers and other staff stationed in more than 270 embassies, consulates and missions around the world.

The secretary of state's daily schedule is likely to include morning meetings and updates on the ongoing crisis from senior officials, intelligence agencies or regional experts. In Washington, D.C., the Secretary will also host or attend meetings with ambassadors and foreign dignitaries or congressional leaders.

The Secretary of State also reviews budgets, personnel decisions, and many reports produced by U.S. embassies and other overseas offices on political situations in other countries and regions.

The Secretary of State is responsible for resolving conflicts around the world and helping to maintain peace. This involves traveling abroad frequently to meet with different foreign counterparts.

For example, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the West Bank, Israel, Albania, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Jamaica, Austria, South Korea, and the Philippines in February and March 2024.

The same goes for budget monitoring

Not all secretarial jobs are glamorous or exciting.

Because the secretary of state oversees the State Department, this person must carefully monitor the budget to help ensure that the correct amount of the department's massive budget (currently $58.8 billion from July 2024 to June 2025) reaches the various U.S. diplomatic and diplomatic services. Assistance mission.

The Secretary of State also needs to understand and ensure that the United States meets its obligations under various international agreements, such as arms control treaties and trade agreements. The Secretary of State participates in the negotiation of agreements with international organizations such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Another important but less visible role of the Secretary of State is the protection of U.S. citizens abroad. The State Department helps U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad with issues ranging from renewing passports and visas to helping them evacuate for medical emergencies.

The State Department also provides assistance to U.S. citizens who experience natural disasters, political unrest, or kidnapping abroad.

Finally, the Secretary of State must guide and balance international expectations about how the United States should respond to escalating conflicts in other countries. At the same time, the secretary of state must also balance domestic political considerations in the United States.

Why experience is important

The secretary of state leads the charge in responding to crises, from humanitarian disasters to foreign cyberattacks that can rapidly escalate. The person holding this position must have crisis management experience, a clear understanding of global politics and history, and strong decision-making skills.

A skilled secretary can win bipartisan support and effectively communicate the importance of foreign policy decisions to the public. A lack of political wisdom could lead to gridlock or undermine initiatives the United States wants to take.

If the secretary of state is inexperienced or uses poor judgment, it could also exacerbate the crisis or cause long-term damage to U.S. national security and relations with other countries.

This story is part of a series of profiles on cabinet and senior executive positions.