Senate Confirms Christopher Landau as Deputy Secretary of State, Signaling Focus on Americas
The Senate has confirmed Christopher Landau, former US ambassador to Mexico, as Deputy Secretary of State in a 60-31 vote on Monday, as per Bloomberg.
The appointment underscores the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on the Americas as a key component of its foreign policy agenda.
Landau’s confirmation hearing earlier this month highlighted the Trump administration’s priorities, particularly the State Department’s role in countering global mass migration. This, along with security concerns, were central to Landau’s efforts during his tenure as ambassador to Mexico City, which began in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
These themes also align with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s agenda for the hemisphere, which includes encouraging nations to increase enforcement efforts and accept deportees.
During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to end illegal immigration and implement the largest deportation operation in US history. His administration began with prominent raids and deportation flights, sometimes using military aircraft, to Central and South America. He also deployed troops to the border with Mexico, which resulted in a significant reduction in illegal border crossings, reaching approximately 8,300 in February, the lowest level in decades.
Landau, who is fluent in Spanish, has deep ties to Latin America, having been born in Spain and raised in Canada and various Latin American countries. The son of a diplomat, he graduated from Harvard Law School and clerked for Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas before spending decades in private practice.
During his confirmation hearing, Landau also expressed his intention to work with American companies to help them better compete with Chinese state-owned enterprises for global opportunities.
