washington — Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state to lead the State Department, will be questioned by Senate colleagues Wednesday morning in what is expected to be one of the least contentious questions. confirmation hearing This week.

Rubio, who has extensive foreign policy experience, is likely to successfully pass the confirmation process and become the top diplomat of the United States. However, questioning could become awkward if Democrats highlight potential foreign policy differences between him and Trump, the former rival he now must defend.

"Ultimately, under President Trump, the State Department's top priority must be and will be America," Rubio is expected to say, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. A Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing is scheduled for morning Watch live in the player above starting at 10am.

The senator has taken tough stances on China, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. In the Senate, he has been one of the most outspoken voices on China, calling the country "the threat that will define this century." Members of both parties have since adopted his stance on China.

In addition to warning of national security risks, Rubio has sought to hold China accountable for human rights abuses. In 2020, Beijing responded to Rubio's criticism by banning him from entering the country. It's unclear what will happen to the ban once he takes office and is charged with enforcing Trump's foreign policy goals.

Excerpts show Rubio will target China at the hearing. The Chinese government, he would say, "has achieved global superpower status through lying, cheating, hacking and stealing, at our expense."

Rubio will take over a position that faces multiple global challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine, ongoing violence in the Middle East, China's aggression against Taiwan and tensions with the United States. Trump also suggested using military force or coercion to control the United States. Greenland and the Panama Canal. He has proposed annexing Canada as the 51st state and threatened a trade war with U.S. allies.

Rubio will also accuse the post-Cold War global order of being "obsolete" and calling it a "weapon used against us."

"While the United States often continues to prioritize 'global order' over our core national interests, other countries continue to act the way they have and will continue to act in order to achieve what they believe is in their best interests," the Rubio plan said. ". “Instead of integrating into the post-Cold War global order, they manipulated it to serve their interests at our expense.”

Who is Marco Rubio?

Rubio, 53, was born in Miami to Cuban immigrants who arrived in the United States in May 1956. His father was a banquet bartender and his mother was a hotel maid. Rubio "went into public service in large part because of his grandfather, who saw his country destroyed by communism," according to his Senate website.

Rubio began his long political career as a West Miami city commissioner after earning degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami School of Law. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and served until 2008, including two years as speaker.

The Florida Republican was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and won his third six-year term in 2022. He served as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Rubio is one of many Republican candidates running for president in 2016. He ended his campaign after losing to Trump in the primary in his home state of Florida. The two had a spat during the campaign, with Rubio calling Trump a "liar" who had hijacked the Republican Party and the "vulgarest person" ever to run for president. Trump has tried to undermine his opponent by nicknamed him "Little Marco."

Still, Rubio supported Trump for president after dropping out of the race, and the two have developed a pragmatic relationship in the years since. Trump considered Rubio as a possible running mate in the 2024 race, but ultimately chose Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

How to watch Marco Rubio's confirmation hearing

CBS News will broadcast Rubio's confirmation hearing among the players listed above Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

Is Marco Rubio's vote yet to be confirmed?

Rubio will almost certainly be confirmed with bipartisan support. Some Senate Democrats praised Trump's choice and pledged to be on the floor to support his nomination, barring unforeseen circumstances, in which he receives far more than the 50 votes needed for confirmation.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who met with Rubio on Monday, called the Florida Republican "a good choice" and said he has "a thorough understanding of America's role on the international scale."

"I plan to vote for his nomination on the Senate floor," Senate Democratic Leader Durbin said in a statement.