Exclusive: Tillerson plans to skip NATO meeting, visit Russia in April - sources

[herding cats]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to skip an April 5-6 meeting of NATO foreign ministers for a U.S. visit by the Chinese president and will travel to Russia later in the month, U.S. officials said on Monday, a step allies may see as putting Moscow's concerns ahead of theirs.

Tillerson intends to miss what would be his first meeting in Brussels with the 28 NATO members to attend President Donald Trump's expected April 6-7 talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, four current and former U.S. officials said.

The decisions to skip the NATO meeting and to visit Moscow risked feeding a perception that Trump may be putting U.S. dealings with big powers before those of smaller nations that depend on Washington for their security, said two former U.S. officials.

Trump has often praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Tillerson worked with Russia's government for years as a top executive at Exxon Mobil Corp, and has questioned the wisdom of sanctions against Russia that he said could harm U.S. businesses.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-tillerson-idUSKBN16S04I?il=0

[George II]

1. I guess checking into his Russian oil investments is more important, eh?

[herding cats]

3. It makes their priorities more obvious, that's for sure.

I can't believe they'd be this blatant at this point. They just don't care.

[MBS]

7. My reaction, too- SO unbelievably blatant. n/t

[StevieM]

11. Seriously. You can't make this stuff up. (eom)

[diva77]

21. Did he ever release his tax returns? Could not find online

most recent article I could find stated he would NOT hand them over

January 11 by Karoun Demirjian
Tillerson won’t hand over his tax returns

snip...Rex Tillerson resisted an effort from Democrats to get him to commit to hand over his tax returns before he is confirmed, asking senators to respect his privacy.

“I will do my best,” Tillerson said in response to a question from Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Ben Cardin (D-Md.). “I hope you’ll also respect the privacy of myself and my family, and the longstanding tradition of the privacy of individuals’ tax returns.”...snip

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2017/live-updates/trump-white-house/confirmation-hearings-trump-speaks-and-vote-a-rama-analysis-and-updates/tillerson-wont-hand-over-his-tax-returns/?utm_term=.457e65946ff1

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

26. Meet with NATO or meet with China? Tough choice.

I'd guess there's more work to do with China issues: South China Seas, one-China, North Korea, etc.

I think NATO can get the meetings done on their own, without having to wake Tillerson from his naps. I hope Tillerson is sending underlings to the NATO meetings, if he has underlings.

Checking his Russian oil investments is later, after he's rested from his China meetings.

[George II]

28. And don't forget the roughly $600M trump owes the Bank of China.

[Doreen]

2. So, is this a visit that is "supposed" to be for the U.S or is it "actually" for Exxon?

[herding cats]

14. Tillerson is an idiot if he thinks destabilizing the US is good for Exxon in the long term.

Short term, sure probably, but the end result will not be the windfall they're banking on.

[bathroommonkey76]

4. The press pool will be left behind at the airport. n/t

[herding cats]

6. Of course.

Never fear, I'm sure RT will have full access for their spin.

[tavernier]

5. Blowing off NATO

Schiff just said that he hoped this wasn't true because it's a really BAD idea.

[herding cats]

9. It's a horrific idea.

US diplomacy is as good as dead if this takes place.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Payoff to the Russians. . . . nt

[wildeyed]

8. Daddy is calling him,

so he has to run. No surprise here.

[left-of-center2012]

12. Trump has already antagonized and worried NATO allies ...

Trump has already antagonized and worried NATO allies by referring to the Western security alliance as "obsolete"

[SunSeeker]

15. Tillerson just wants to finish the $1T Exxon oil deal with Putin and quit.

He appears utterly uninterested in and annoyed by the job of Secretary of State.

He is just Putin's closer on the Exxon deal.

[GeoWilliam750]

17. If true,

Floor, meet jaw.

[bluedigger]

18. I'd rather golf, too!

Fore!

[Sparky 1]

19. I hope Pence, or Ryan or Hatch or whoever survives this Russian stuff fires him.

[Hekate]

20. Breathtakingly arrogant corruption nt

[chelsea0011]

22. Allies? Fuck them. I smell oil.

[mdbl]

23. Not suprising.

Fascist people like to congregate with the other few like them.

[Sunlei]

24. like was stated yesterday during the hearings. The sanctions made the old kgb russian "miss his vaca

"miss his vacations to America, riding motorcycles with his buddy Tillerson"

That's not exact quote but that's how deep the friendship is between Republicans in our current Admin and a foreign government.

[UCmeNdc]

25. Time for him to get new instructions from Putin

Things are moving fast. Putin must reorganize and that means speaking to his mole in the State Department.

[Demsrule86]

27. I see Putin is still in control of the Trump administration.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

29. A "Hold my beer" moment after we asked yesterday what else could the administration do...

....to make its cooption by Russia any more obvious.

[jeanmarc]

30. All hail Saruman

Now just release the urine tapes, please

[dmosh42]

31. Getting his latest orders from Putin!