#RexTillerson – European Affairs Magazine

Algeria – USA: Time For Consultations

23 Maggio 2017 BreakingNews @en di

This week, Algerian Foreign Minister, met Rex Tillerson to the White House. This is the first summit of this kind since the Reagan Presidency. The US Secretary of State listened Foreign Minister about the fight to terrorism, economic cooperation, the security. Americans want to get over current situation, increasing the commercial exchanges. United States appreciated the role of Algeria in the fight to terrorism, as said the Algerian Ambassador to Washington. Algerian Minister remembered the situation in Libya, and Rex Tillerson said that Algeria will play a key role in the crisis. Ramtane Lamamra said that Americans don’t want to create instability in Algeria, because they know what is happened in Syria, they support a keeping of status quo.

Netanyahu: Moving the US Embassy in Jerusalem won’t harm the peace process

15 Maggio 2017 BreakingNews @en di

In an interview with Meet the Press earlier in the day, Tillerson indicated that moving the embassy from Tel Aviv could be harmful to the new peace process that US President Donald Trump hoped to advance during his trip to the Middle East later this month.Netanyahu said in response, “Israel has clearly stated its position to Israel and to the world multiple times. Moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem won’t harm the peace process. The opposite is true. It will advance the process and correct a historic injustice”. Nethanyau added that it would also shatter a Palestinian fantasy that Jerusalem isn’t Israel’s capital.Taking to social media to deliver the message Sunday, Bennett wrote on Twitter: “Countries from across the world place their embassies in Washington DC, thus this needs to be applied in Jerusalem, our capital for 3000 years”. “Moving the US embassy in Israel to (Jerusalem) strengthens Israel and strengthens the prospects for peace”, Bennett added.

Putin says trust erodes under Trump, Moscow icily receives Tillerson.

13 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday 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. Tillerson started a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin after talking to his Russian opposite number Sergei Lavrov for around three hours. The Kremlin had previously declined to confirm Putin would meet Tillerson, reflecting tensions over the U.S. strike on Syria. Just as Tillerson sat down for talks with Lavrov earlier on Wednesday, a senior Russian official assailed the “primitiveness and loutishness” of U.S. rhetoric, part of a volley of statements that appeared timed to maximize the awkwardness during the first visit by a member of Trump’s cabinet.

Russia accuses US of nnlawful Syria raid as Tillerson visits.

13 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Russia’s top diplomat accused the United States on Wednesday of carrying out an unlawful attack against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces as he opened a fraught meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Trump, meanwhile, told Fox Business News that the U.S. had no plans to become more deeply involved in Syria and only did so because of last week’s deadly chemical weapons attack that killed dozens. Turkey has said tests showed sarin gas was used. He talked also about Assad and Putin’ support: “Frankly, Putin is backing a person that’s truly an evil person,” Trump aid in the Fox Business Network interview, referring to Assad. “I think it’s very bad for Russia. I think it’s very bad for mankind. This is an animal”. Anyway the dialogue and cooperation remain open roads for Syria Resolution, added Tillerson in Moscow.

G-7 Ministers aim to press Russia to stop backing Assad.

11 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations were gathering in Italy Monday for a meeting given urgency by the chemical attack in Syria and the U.S. military response, with participants aiming to pressure Russia to end its support for President Bashar Assad and help mount a new push for peace. The meeting in Lucca brings together the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain, Japan and Canada – as well as the U.S. and current G-7 president Italy. Britain is keen for the ministers’ meeting to produce a tough statement and perhaps a threat of new sanctions if Moscow does not end its military support for Assad. Johnson, who canceled the trip in Russia at the last minute, saying the chemical attack had “changed the situation fundamentally”. Finally, Tillerson is due to travel to Russia after the G-7 gathering, and Johnson said he will deliver a “clear and coordinated message to the Russians”.

Houthis threatening strategic starit, warns US general.

1 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

US Central Command chief Gen. Votel told the House Armed Services Committee that the rebels have deployed coastal defense missiles, radar systems and mines, migrated from the strait of Hormuz, threatening free movement into and out the Red Sea. For that reason US Defense Secretary Mattis is increasing military support for the Saudi-led coalition and US Secretary of State Tillerson recommended aiding forces from the UAE driving Houthi rebels from the key port of Al-Hodeidah. Tillerson also said suggested increasing air-to-air refueling and intelligence support to the Arab Coalition. Meanwhile, the UN special envoy to Yemen Cheikh Ahmed, said military operations are escalating and the humanitarian and economic situations are deteriorating in the country, reason why he urged the Security Council to pressure Yemen’s government and the Houthis to proceed with political and security measures, which he prensented.

US says Assad removal no longer priority in Syria.

1 Aprile 2017 BreakingNews @en di

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the US is changing course on Syria, and that the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad is no longer a priority. Haley said she wants to work with countries such as Turkey and Russia to find a long-term political solution in Syria, rather than keep the focus on the Syrian president’s future. Just prior to Haley’s comments, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held a joint press conference in Turkey with his counterpart there, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and signaled the change in direction for US diplomacy. Tillerson said “Assad’s long-term presence must be decided by the Syrian people”.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to open the door to improved ties between Japan and South Korea during his visit here, but Seoul lobbed the ball back in Japan's court calling for a "more flexible approach", sources said. Tillerson met with South Korea's acting president, Hwang Kyo-ahn, on March 17 and conveyed his hopes for an early improvement in relations between the Asian powers, the sources said. He was particularly concerned about the estrangement in light of recent provocations by North Korea. Tillerson's remarks appeared intended to encourage South Korea to find some accommodation with Japan over a statue of a girl symbolizing Korean “comfort women” that was set up in front of the Japanese consulate-general in the southern port city of Busan.

24 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to open the door to improved ties between Japan and South Korea during his visit here, but Seoul lobbed the ball back in Japan’s court calling for a “more flexible approach”, sources said. Tillerson met with South Korea’s acting president, Hwang Kyo-ahn, on March 17 and conveyed his hopes for an early improvement in relations between the Asian powers, the sources said. He was particularly concerned about the estrangement in light of recent provocations by North Korea. Tillerson’s remarks appeared intended to encourage South Korea to find some accommodation with Japan over a statue of a girl symbolizing Korean “comfort women” that was set up in front of the Japanese consulate-general in the southern port city of Busan.

Trump said: expelling drug traffickers and other criminals in an operation called "military”

25 Febbraio 2017 BreakingNews @en di

About the trip of US Secretary of State Tillerson and the Secretary of Homeland Security Kelly in Mexico, President Trump said during a meeting with managers of different companies that for the first time the United States is expelling from the national territory drug traffickers and other criminals in an operation that Trump has called “military”. The President’s words have troubled the Mexican government that immediately requested clarification at Tillerson and at Kelly, both were forced to deny the Trump statements, especially Kelly ensured that the will not be used military in the operations and that there will be no mass expulsions.

Libya’s power balance tilts towards Haftar, Trump officials view it with suspicion

24 Febbraio 2017 BreakingNews @en di

America, until now the key backer of the GNA, has fallen away. The new administration of President Donald Trump has yet to give definitive comments on Libya, but is expected to designate Muslim Brotherhood, one of the key factions in the GNA, as a terrorist organisation. As such, that would rub out any US support for the GNA and leave it floundering, and both Al Sarraj and Haftar know it. Whereas the erstwhile administration of former US president Barack Obama viewed Muslim Brotherhood as a positive non-violent expression of Islamism, Trump officials view it with suspicion, accusing it of links with violent groups. Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon has long made combatting Muslim Brotherhood his cause celebre. Yet, it is likely to suffer if the US designates it as a group supporting terrorism. Trump’s Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, used his confirmation hearing last month to equate Brotherhood with Al Qaida: “The demise of IS [Daesh, or the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] would also allow us to devote our attention to other agents of radicalism like Al Qaida, Muslim Brotherhood and certain elements within Iran”.