U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday outlined for his staff how an "America First" agenda translates into foreign policy, but did not address the Trump administration's proposed budget cuts, which worry many diplomats. Tillerson said U.S. foreign policy priorities had gotten "a little bit out of balance" in the previous decades, with the United States too focused on promoting economic activity and trade with emerging economies. He also signaled that the United States would de-emphasize human rights concerns in some of its interactions with other countries, saying that while U.S. values remain constant, its policies can adapt. The pressure campaign on North Korea is "at about dial setting 5 or 6 right now," Tillerson said. The phrase was used in the 1930s by isolationists who sought to keep the United States out of World War Two.

Source: The Star May 03, 2017 23:37 UTC