By Patricia Zengerle, Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio promised a robust foreign policy focused on American interests at his nomination hearing on Wednesday for secretary of state under President-elect Donald Trump who takes office on Jan.

Speaking as much to the history books as to the civil servants gathered at the State Department on Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden said U.S. foreign policy during his term had put the United States and its allies on a stronger footing,

Marco Rubio is no stranger to grilling nominees during confirmation hearings, but on Wednesday, he was the one in the hot seat as President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the top U.S. diplomat moves forward.