The Senate voted in favor of Carter Thursday to run the Pentagon at the time that the US is increasing military action against the ISIL Takfiri militants, the conflict is going on in Ukraine with other crises happening around the world.
Carter, 60, a former deputy defense secretary under Leon Panetta, will replace Chuck Hagel, who announced his resignation in November under pressure from Obama over the increasing conflicts in the Middle East.
He will be the United States’ 25th and Obama's fourth defense secretary in six years after Hagel, Panetta and Robert Gates.
Before starting his tenure as the deputy defense secretary from 2011 to 2013, he had spent two years as the department's technology and weapons-buying chief.
He also worked as assistant secretary of defense for international security policy during Bill Clinton's administration.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, described Carter as “one of America’s most experienced defense professionals.”
However, McCain said that President Obama would not put his full faith in Mr. Carter. “When it comes to much of our national security policy, I must candidly express concern about the task that awaits Dr. Carter and the limited influence he may have”.
On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved Carter’s nomination 25-0.
At a hearing before the panel on February 4, Carter said he supports giving lethal arms to the Ukrainian forces to face pro-Russia protesters in the east and called for a “lasting defeat” of the ISIL terrorists, rather than Obama’s pledge to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Takfiri group.
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