US officials said the White House had a plan for CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace Rex Tillerson (above) but Trump later said he was not leaving. Photo: ReutersOn the eve of his trip to Europe, Rex Tillerson gave a speech last week that European allies had waited months to hear: an "ironclad" promise of US support to its oldest allies. The French have gone around Tillerson to develop contacts with US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, while the EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini has gone directly to Vice President Mike Pence. Yet it is unclear if that access translates into a direct impact on Trump's foreign policy, diplomats said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 04, 2017 01:18 UTC