Nominee for U.S. secretary of state says State Department will prioritize U.S. safety, strength and prosperity

The nominee for U.S. secretary of state said he would make the protection of U.S. national interests the primary test for Department of State programs and spending, declaring that every program and policy must answer one of three questions: does it make “America safer,” “America stronger” or “America more prosperous?”

The nominee framed the remarks as a response to what he called the erosion of the post–World War II global order, arguing that alliances and free trade once produced stability and prosperity but later harmed some American workers and national security. He criticized the Chinese Communist Party and cited migration, narcoterrorism and hostile states as threats he said the United States must confront.

The speech opened with personal remarks: the nominee noted he had been nominated by…