Tillerson to discuss US-EU cooperation in Brussels

Washington D.C. (U.S.A.) December 1 (ANI) : The Trump administration, which is mulling to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has said that he will be in Brussels on December 4 to discuss United States-European Union cooperation on major global issues.

States department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Thursday in a statement said, "Tillerson will also meet with senior Belgian officials, as well as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of the 28 European Union member states to discuss US-EU cooperation on major global issues."

Tillerson on Thursday made an unannounced visit to the White House after the news spread of CIA Director Mike Pompeo replacing him as the Secretary of State.

The switch is likely to happen 'within the next several weeks', reported the New York Times, citing senior administration officials as saying.

According to reports, Sebastian Gorka, former advisor to President Donald Trump, told Breitbart in October, Pompeo is "very loyal to the president."

"Having somebody like Pompeo come into the State Department would be great news," Gorka added.

Pompeo's role will be assigned to Republican Senator Tom Cotton at the CIA who had been a key ally of President Donald Trump on national security matters. The senator has advised Trump on issues like the Iran nuclear deal and immigration.

Pompeo, 53, served as a congressman from Kansas before heading the CIA.

Cotton, a 40-year-old Army veteran, first won his Senate seat in 2014.

The White House chief of staff John F. Kelly developed the transition plan. However it is yet unclear if Trump has given final approval to the plan.

Tillerson has been at odds with Trump over a host of major issues.

Their approaches have disparities on North Korea and Iran's nuclear programme among other issues.

The Secretary of State was even reported to have described the president as a "moron".

Trump had publicly criticized Tillerson for "wasting his time" with a diplomatic outreach to North Korea.

"Tillerson will travel to Brussels, Belgium; Vienna, Austria; and Paris, France, December 4-8, to discuss bilateral issues," said the statement. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI