US president-elect Donald Trump has announced that Florida Congressman Mike Waltz will be his pick for National Security Adviser.
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But how does the war veteran's appointment could benefit India? Waltz is the co-chair of the 40-member India Caucus, the largest bipartisan country-based group in Congress.
Waltz is also known for his warm relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was instrumental in coordinating the PM's Capitol Hill address during his 2023 visit.
He is a staunch proponent of improving security and defence ties with India to counter China. He serves on the GOP China taskforce and has maintained that the US is not ready for a conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
Who is Mike Waltz?
Mike Waltz, 50, is a retired Army colonel who was part of the special forces unit Green Beret. The three-term GOP Rep was elected a member of the US House of Representatives for the first time in 2019 and was re-elected last week.
He is also serving in the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness.
Waltz is known for being a vocal critic of Joe Biden administration's move to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 2021.