Page 8 - aruba-today-20180428

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 28 april 2018
Pompeo dives into NATO diplomacy as allies confront Russia

By MATTHEW LEE fense system from Russia.
AP Diplomatic Writer But as he walked into the
BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Secre- meeting, Cavusoglu sig-
tary of State Mike Pompeo naled that Turkey would
rebuked Russia on Friday not back down on the pur-
for what he called aggres- chase, which the U.S. and
sion beyond its borders, other NATO members op-
and vowed to restore rel- pose.
evance to a badly demor- Russian President Vladimir
alized State Department Putin said earlier this month
in his new role as the top that the production and
American diplomat. delivery of the S-400 sys-
Attending a meeting of tem is being accelerated
NATO foreign ministers in and Cavusoglu told report-
Brussels less than 24 hours ers on Friday that "Russia is
after being sworn in, Pom- speeding up the process."
peo criticized Russia for From Brussels, Pompeo will
threatening the alliance's travel on to the Middle
friends and partners in East, visiting Saudi Arabia,
Georgia and Ukraine as Israel and Jordan, where
well as for "an aggressive the future of the Iran nu-
campaign to undermine clear deal and the conflict
Western democratic institu- in Syria will be significant
tions." agenda items. Pompeo,
Among other Russian mis- repeating Trump's pledge
deeds, Pompeo said, are to withdraw from the deal
the poisoning of a Rus- unless it is significantly
sian ex-spy in Britain last strengthened, said the U.S.
month and its support for was "unlikely" to stay in if
Syrian President Bashar that was not done.
Assad's government. Syria Pompeo arrives in Riyadh
is accused of launching a on Saturday ahead of a
chemical weapons attack series of events that could
that led three NATO mem- potentially plunge the re-
bers — Britain, France and gion into deeper disarray,
the U.S. — to launch air- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Jens Stol- including Trump's decision
strikes on Syrian targets. tenberg prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday, April 27, 2018. by May 12 on the Iran deal,
Syria has denied responsi- Associated Press and the scheduled open-
bility. ing of the new U.S. Embassy
"In light of Russia's unac- stage for a summit of NATO Chancellor Angela Merkel a group of U.S. diplomats in Jerusalem two days later.
ceptable actions, NATO leaders in July at which and President Donald he met at NATO. "They are The embassy move is deep-
is more indispensable they are expected to out- Trump were meeting at the hopeful that the State De- ly opposed by the Palestin-
than ever," the former CIA line more specifics about White House. partment will get its swag- ians, who on May 15 will
chief told reporters as he their response to Russia. Pompeo arrived in Brussels ger back, that we will be mark the anniversary of
wrapped up the first stop Because of NATO's cen- about 12 hours after he out doing the things that what they term the "nab-
on his first overseas trip as tral role in pushing back was sworn in as secretary they came on board at the ka," or catastrophe, when
secretary of state. "NATO against Russia, Pompeo of state to replace Rex Til- State Department to do." they fled or were driven
should not return to busi- said it was even more im- lerson, fired by Trump last "That's my mission set: to from their homes during the
ness as usual with Russia portant that the allies, month. His participation in build that esprit and get 1948 Palestine war.
until Moscow shows a clear particularly Germany, the the meeting so soon after that team on the field," Looming over Pompeo's trip
change in its actions and largest and wealthiest Euro- taking office was noted Pompeo said. is uncertainty over Trump's
complies with international pean member, meet their by Stoltenberg and others One of Pompeo's other policy on Syria, which has
law." commitments to spend 2 who said it was a sign of goals in Brussels was to shifted between a speedy
Pompeo said that among percent of their gross do- U.S. commitment to NATO convince Turkish Foreign all-out withdrawal of Ameri-
the allies there was "enor- mestic product on defense and its allies. Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu can forces from the coun-
mous consensus of the risk by 2024. His arrival also appeared in a separate meeting to try and leaving a lasting
that it poses to the West The commitment was to have heartened some refocus on coordination in footprint to deter Iran from
(and) a real commitment made in 2014 and thus far U.S. diplomats who had northern Syria, where Tur- completing a land bridge
to work together to miti- only six of the 28 countries been discouraged by Til- key has been attacking from Tehran to Beirut.q
gate to those risks and to that made the pledge lerson's embrace of bud- Kurdish rebels supported by
deter them." meet the goal. Nine have get and staffing cuts and the U.S.
NATO Secretary-General produced realistic plans for a perceived desire to re- That coordination was
Jens Stoltenberg agreed. reaching it by 2024, but the duce America's diplomatic started by Tillerson but had
"We are in a situation where rest, including Germany, footprint. Pompeo is known languished in the absence
we've not been before," he have not. to be close to Trump while of a new secretary of state.
said. "We're not in the old "No," Pompeo replied blunt- Tillerson and the president Pompeo also renewed calls
Cold War, but we're neither ly when asked if Germany's sparred frequently. for the release of a jailed
in the strategic partnership efforts to increase defense Pompeo alluded to the American pastor accused
we were trying to build af- spending have been satis- change. by Turkey of espionage,
ter the Cold War. So this is factory. "They should meet "They may have been de- and encouraged Turkey
something new." the goals that they agreed moralized but they seemed not to pursue the purchase
Friday's meetings set the to," he said as German in good spirits," he said of of an advanced air-de-