Rubio -- long known as a hawk in the Senate -- has been accused of dialing back his interventionist foreign policy approach to align with Trump's positions and may face fresh criticism from opponents who believe he might prioritize serving as a yes man to president over serving the country.

Sen. Marco Rubio will appear Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of state. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EST on Wednesday,

"Senator Rubio and I share many similar views on foreign policy and as a result, have worked closely together in the Senate to move forward with legislation regarding human rights around the world, the continued threat of China, and the recent sham election in Venezuela," Durbin said in the statement.

Sen. Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of State, will appear for his first confirmation hearing Wednesday morning before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rubio has represented Florida in the Senate since 2010 and challenged Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.

Rubio is seen as a steady foreign policy hand who has the confidence of Trump and Senate colleagues from both parties.

Senator Marco Rubio is Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, but in the weeks running up to Inauguration Day, the president-elect’s special envoys have been getting most of the attention.

Rubio is expected to face questions about the incoming administration’s approach to an historic wave of migration throughout the hemisphere that has dominated U.S. relations with other countries.