John Mearsheimer, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, believes that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is setting the stage for a presidential run in the 2028 elections. He highlights that Rubio's public stances, particularly on the Ukraine war, largely reflect domestic political calculations.
In an interview on the YouTube channel "Deep Dive," Mearsheimer stated that Rubio is aiming to gain the support of the American elite influential in shaping foreign policy, which explains his hardline positions against Russia and the Ukraine conflict.
He added that Rubio understands that enhancing his prospects in the upcoming elections requires demonstrating a firm stance on foreign policy issues, emphasizing that this is part of an early strategy to build his presidential campaign.
Mearsheimer pointed out that Rubio's main rival within the Republican camp is Vice President J.D. Vance, who takes more conservative stances on the Ukraine war and supports negotiating a settlement with Iran, contrary to Rubio's focus on highlighting differences with Tehran.
The American expert noted that this divergence between Rubio and Vance is not limited to the Iran issue but also extends to the Ukrainian crisis, as Rubio continues to advocate for increased pressure on Moscow to push them toward negotiations.
These statements come at a time when Rubio has previously confirmed before Congress that the United States cannot be seen as a neutral mediator in the Ukrainian war due to its support for Kyiv. He also recently clarified that the Alaska summit between the U.S. and Russia did not result in final agreements but only saw the exchange of verbal proposals.