State Department nominee vows to be tough on Russia
CIA Director Mike Pompeo, picked to be the next secretary of state, will tell the Senate on Thursday that years of soft U.S. policy toward Russia are “now over.” Drawing a sharp contrast with predecessor Rex Tillerson, Pompeo will vow to promote democracy and human rights while ending “demoralizing” vacancies at the State Department.
According to his prepared remarks, Pompeo will chastise Russia for acting “aggressively” and emphasize that the Trump administration considers Russia “a danger to our country.”
But he will also say that diplomatic efforts with Moscow, while challenging, “must continue.”
Pompeo will also stress America’s “duty to lead,” despite Trump’s vows to put “America first.”