Newly confirmed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had an impressive first two days on the job. Immediately after being sworn into office, he set off on a high-level diplomatic trip. While Pompeo's confirmation was moving through the full Senate, several important senior-level positions at State were being filled by well-qualified appointees and rumors of additional appointments were swirling. In 36 hours, Pompeo did more to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the State Department than his predecessor did in the previous 15 months.
On Friday, Secretary Pompeo landed in Brussels to meet with his NATO counterparts to discuss Russian aggression, ongoing conflicts around the world (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine), and the strengthening of trans-Atlantic relations. Pompeo's visit sent the message that the United States intends to remain engaged in international challenges and that alliances—like NATO—are as critical today as they were during the Cold War.
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