Mike pompeo

BERLIN: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cancelled a Germany visit on Tuesday (May 7) hours before he was due to arrive in a move that did little to alleviate diplomatic strain between the traditional allies.The no-show came at a time when President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Chancellor Angela Merkel's government on migration, trade, Russia relations and what he considers Berlin's insufficient NATO spending.Pompeo had been due to meet Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas later on Tuesday.State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus cited "pressing issues" for Pompeo's late cancellation and said "we look forward to rescheduling this important set of meetings"."The Secretary looks forward to being in Berlin soon," she said, but gave no further details or explanation for the sudden change of plans.German parliamentary foreign affairs committee chair Norbert Roettgen said that "even if the reasons for the rejection are unavoidable, it unfortunately fits in with the current … [Read more...] about Pompeo cancels Germany visit due to ‘pressing issues’

MOSCOW: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the southern Russian city of Sochi on May 14, the RIA news agency cited a source in Russia's foreign ministry as saying on Tuesday (May 7).The two men are expected to discuss Venezuela's political crisis and North Korea's nuclear programme.There will be no shortage of other subjects for Pompeo and Lavrov to discuss as Russia and the United States remain at odds over Syria, Ukraine and nuclear arms control, as well as the detention by Russia of Paul Whelan, a former US ex-Marine, on espionage charges he denies. … [Read more...] about Pompeo, Russia’s Lavrov to hold talks in Sochi on May 14: RIA

ROVANIEMI, Finland: The US on Monday (May 6) said it planned to beef up its Arctic presence to keep Russia's and China's "aggressive behaviour" in check in the resource-rich region."The region has become an arena of global power and competition" owing to vast reserves of oil, gas, minerals and fish stocks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in a speech in Rovaniemi, northern Finland."Just because the Arctic is a place of wilderness does not mean it should become a place of lawlessness," he said.Speaking on the eve of a meeting of the eight members of the Arctic Council, Pompeo took on Beijing and Moscow."China's pattern of aggressive behaviour elsewhere will inform how it treats the Arctic," he said.He warned against scenarios whereby nations become ensnared by debt and corruption, of low-quality investments, militarisation and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources, all of which he said were potential effects of allowing rising Chinese influence."Do we want the Arctic … [Read more...] about Pompeo slams China, Russia for ‘aggressive’ Arctic behaviour

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traded accusations in a phone call on Wednesday (May 1) that the other power was destabilising Venezuela after an aborted military uprising.With the United States pushing to topple President Nicolas Maduro, Pompeo charged that Russia and Cuba were instrumental in keeping the leftist firebrand in power.Pompeo "stressed that the intervention by Russia and Cuba is destabilising for Venezuela and for the US-Russia bilateral relationship," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.Pompeo "urged Russia to cease support for Nicolas Maduro and join other nations, including the overwhelming majority of countries in the Western Hemisphere, who seek a better future for the Venezuelan people," she said in a statement.But Lavrov denounced Washington's "destructive influence" in its support for opposition leader Juan Guaido, who on Tuesday claimed the backing of members of the armed forces in a … [Read more...] about Pompeo, Lavrov trade accusations on Venezuela in phone call