President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Florida Congressman Mike Waltz to serve as his administration’s national security adviser, a source familiar with the decision confirmed to Scripps News.

“Mike has been a strong champion of my America First foreign policy agenda and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of peace through force!” Trump said in a statement.

Waltz, a Green Beret veteran and retired National Guard colonel, served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 27 years. He was elected to represent Florida’s 6th District in the US House of Representatives in 2018, succeeding current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Scripps News spoke with Rep. Waltz on election night about a week ago, where he put the risks of global conflict into an energy perspective, particularly as it pertains to Ukraine.

Rep. Florida Mike Waltz discusses foreign policy and energy goals

“I think at the heart of all of this is going to be energy policy,” Waltz said of potential policy changes during Trump’s second term. “If we just lift the (liquefied natural gas) ban and don’t do things like Biden did with canceling the Keystone XL pipeline.”

“We need to put our foot on the gas when it comes to oil and gas production around the world. Drop the price worldwide, which will dry up Putin’s war machine, which will dry up Iran’s war machine. .”

“Right now, Vladimir Putin is selling more oil and gas to the Indian and Chinese markets than he ever did before the war,” Waltz said. “This is literally what gives him the resources to continue the war in Ukraine.”

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Iran, too, is “concerned about President Trump’s return to office,” Waltz said. “They see it as an existential threat.”

“They clearly don’t want a return to maximum pressure. As long as, politically, because they are flush with cash, they will help Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis rebuild despite Israeli successes,” he said . “You will never be successful in bringing peace back to the Middle East as long as Iran is selling oil as it is.”