Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Thursday named Sen. Jeff Sessions as chairman of his National Security Advisory Committee that provides guidance on foreign policy and homeland security.

“It is an honor to have Jeff as a member of the team. I have such great respect for him and I look forward to working with him on the issues most important to Americans,” he said of the Alabama Republican, who has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for nearly 20 years and is chairman of the strategic forces subcommittee.

Mr. Trump has been questioned repeatedly about where he receives his foreign policy guidance. He has said he receives guidance from a variety of experienced military and policy experts.

Mr. Sessions, who endorsed Mr. Trump Sunday, said he was honored to join Mr. Trump’s team.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to recommend and facilitate discussions among exceptional and experienced American military and diplomatic leaders to share insight and advice with Donald Trump, regardless of their political views,” he said.

Mr. Sessions continued, “Mr. Trump and the American people know our country needs a clear-eyed foreign policy rooted in the national interest. We need to understand the limits of our ability to intervene successfully in other nations. It is time for a healthy dose of foreign policy realism.”

“In the Middle East, this means forming partnerships based on shared interests, not merely overthrowing regimes in the dangerous attempt to plant democracies. We must also combat the refugee crisis by creating regional safe zones, rather than depopulating the region by migration,” he said. “The only path to long-term stability and resolution of this humanitarian crisis for the United States and our European allies is to work toward the safe return of migrants to their home countries, as Mr. Trump has noted. This strategy will also protect our own national security.”

“A national-interest foreign policy, combined with a military second to none, stands in contrast to interventionist ideas that could enmesh us further in the region’s chaos,” said Mr. Sessions.

The Trump campaign said that more members of the National Security Advisory Committee would be announced in the next few weeks.

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