(Eagle News) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano congratulated newly designated US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying the Philippines was looking forward to working with him.
“We congratulate Mike Pompeo on his designation as the new Secretary of State. We look forward to working with him and further strengthening the special relationship between the Philippines and the United States,” Cayetano said in a statement.
At the same time, he thanked former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for his “friendship” and the “support he extended to the Philippines.”
“Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is a good friend of the Philippines who played a crucial role in strengthening our relations with the United States during his term as Secretary of State,” Cayetano said.
US President Donald Trump on March 13, 2018 announced the departure of his top diplomat Rex Tillerson, to be succeeded by the current CIA chief Mike Pompeo.”Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job!” Trump tweeted.”Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service!” he added. The US president announced the appointment of Gina Haspel to head the Central Intelligence Agency — the first woman tapped for the post. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN
“We thank Secretary Tillerson for his friendship and the support he has extended to the Philippines and the Filipino people particularly during the period when our relations with the United States were facing challenges. We pray for the best for Secretary Tillerson in all his future endeavors,” he added.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sacked his top diplomat Rex Tillerson and named current CIA chief Mike Pompeo to succeed him.
A senior White House official said Trump wanted to reshuffle his team with a view to launching talks with North Korea, following last week’s spectacular announcement that he plans to meet Kim Jong Un by the end of May.
(With a report from Agence France Presse)