President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly leaning toward selecting Florida Senator Marco Rubio as the next U.S. secretary of state.

According to CNN, sources familiar with Mr Trump’s thinking confirmed it.

As Mr Trump looks to form his national security team for a possible second term, Mr Rubio has emerged as a strong contender for the high-profile role.

Although Mr Trump has not formally offered Rubio the position, sources indicated that the former president was initially considering Ric Grenell, who served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first administration.

However, after several discussions with Rubio’s allies, Trump’s preference shifted towards the Florida senator.

Mr Rubio, a Republican with deep foreign policy experience, has represented Florida in the U.S. Senate since 2011.

He gained national recognition during the 2016 presidential race, where he ran against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination.

Despite their public clashes during that campaign, Mr Rubio has since aligned with many of Mr Trump’s policies, particularly on foreign relations.

Mr Rubio has been a staunch advocate of a tough stance on China, Russia, and authoritarian regimes in Latin America, making him a natural choice for secretary of state.

As a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has been vocal about strengthening U.S. alliances while pushing back against foreign adversaries, especially in regions close to home like Cuba and Venezuela.

If Mr Rubio is tapped for the role, it could signal continuity in Mr Trump’s foreign policy approach, particularly in areas like China and Latin America.