About: Rex Tillerson
Trump fires chief diplomat Tillerson after clashes, taps Pompeo
US President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today (13 March) after a series of public rifts over policy on North Korea, Russia and Iran, replacing his chief diplomat with loyalist CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
Baltic ministers prepare US summit for ‘sending message to Putin’
Foreign ministers from the Baltic states, three exposed allies on NATO's eastern flank, visited Washington on Monday (5 March) to urge Western leaders not to respond naively to Russian threats.
Turkey renames US embassy street amid row over Syria operation
The street in Ankara where the US embassy is located was renamed after Turkey's offensive against a Kurdish militia yesterday (19 February), just days after the two sides agreed on the need to normalise relations.
EU will not lift visas unless Turkey eases terrorism laws
The European Union told Turkey today (16 February) it would not ease travel requirements for its citizens unless Ankara softens counter-terrorism laws that the bloc says are excessive.
Polish President signs anti-defamation bill, causing international protests
Polish President Andrzej Duda signed on Tuesday (6 February) the controversial IPN Act, while at the same time referring it to the Constitutional Court for a final ruling. US officials have expressed disappointment over the Polish step, Ukraine lambasted the law and Israel declared it counts on “changes and amendments.” EURACTIV Poland reports.
US insists Russia using energy as ‘political tool’ in Europe
The United States sees the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany as a threat to Europe's energy security, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday (27 January).
International concern grows over Turkey’s military incursion in Syria
Turkey yesterday (22 January) intensified its offensive against Kurdish militia targets in Syria as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed there would be no stepping back in a campaign that has stoked concern among Ankara's allies and neighbours.
UN’s Guterres warns against ‘sleepwalking’ into war over North Korea
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, warning against the danger of “sleepwalking” into war, said today (14 December) that Security Council resolutions on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs must be fully implemented by Pyongyang and other countries.
Tillerson: Russian vote meddling was ‘hybrid warfare’
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson yesterday (12 December) branded Russia's alleged meddling in last year's American presidential election an act of "hybrid warfare".
Under-fire Tillerson flies US flag in sceptical Europe
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried on Tuesday to shrug off doubts about his future and reassure Washington's European allies of the strength of trans-Atlantic ties.
A weakened Tillerson comes to Europe
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarks this week on a diplomatic mission to shore up alliances in Europe and their defences against Russian aggression and subversion.
Chizhov: Syria is almost settled, time for EU to step in
In a wide-ranging interview on Wednesday (22 November), Russia’s ambassador to the EU discussed Syria and other conflicts, the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, his country's relations with Turkey and Bulgaria's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Mogherini: No need to renegotiate Iran nuclear deal
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Wednesday (20 September) that there was no need to renegotiate the Iranian nuclear deal, insisting it was "delivering" despite US demands to re-open the agreement.
Trump told that Paris Agreement is ‘irreversible and non-negotiable’
The terms of the Paris Agreement are set in stone, the EU, China and Canada agreed at a summit in Montreal this weekend, while Washington was forced to deny that the US is planning to stay in the accord.
Turkey voices energy ambitions at World Petroleum Congress
Turkey, a country poor in energy resources, has voiced its ambitions to leverage its geographic position by becoming an even more important crossroads of supply routes and a giant energy hub, saying this would “improve” the EU’s energy security.
Germany urges lasting ceasefire in eastern Ukraine
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Wednesday (28 June) called for Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to extend a harvest-related ceasefire, saying it could help pave the way for a political solution.
Macron puts faith in Minsk accords
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday (26 June) he saw no better way of negotiating an end to the Ukraine conflict than through the Minsk agreements, sharply differing with comments made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Tillerson gives nod to Paris Agreement at Arctic Council meeting
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed an agreement recognising the landmark Paris climate accord at a meeting of Arctic nations in Alaska on Wednesday (10 May) but said President Trump was not rushing to decide whether to leave or weaken US commitments to the pact.
Merkel makes rare Russia visit as Putin backs warmer ties
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will today (2 May) meet President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in her first visit to Russia since 2015, signalling renewed dialogue between Berlin and Moscow.
American OSCE monitor killed in rebel east Ukraine
An American monitor with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe died after a mission patrol vehicle hit a landmine in the Russian-backed separatist east, eliciting sharp words towards Moscow from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday (23 April).
Tillerson accuses Iran of ‘alarming provocations’ as US reviews policy
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused Iran on Wednesday (19 April) of 'alarming ongoing provocations' to destabilise countries in the Middle East as the Trump administration launched a review of its policy towards Tehran.
Trump: NATO ‘no longer obsolete’
After less than three months in office, President Donald Trump has abruptly shifted his stance on an array of foreign policy issues from the US relationship with Russia and China to the value of the NATO alliance.
Putin says trust erodes under Trump as Moscow receives Tillerson
Vladimir Putin said today (12 April) that trust had eroded between the United States and Russia under President Donald Trump, as Moscow delivered an unusually hostile reception to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a face-off over Syria.