The Trump administration is sending out two competing messages on its policy toward Qatar, which reflects the different perspectives of President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Inside the administration, the competing messages of Trump and Tillerson have yet to be resolvedInside the administration, the competing messages of Trump and Tillerson have yet to be resolved. “The policy that is being worked is the Tillerson policy, Trump’s comments notwithstanding.”Tillerson’s approach has been to attempt to show the White House he can make progress, before more coercive steps against Qatar are considered. The gap between Trump and Tillerson is troubling to many because it suggests that foreign officials can’t necessarily count on what America’s top diplomat says about U.S. policy. Tillerson, who has decades of experience with Qatar, represents a large swath of the foreign policy and national security community who believe that Qatar has been a reliable albeit complicated ally supporting U.S. military operations.

Source: National Post June 14, 2017 15:11 UTC